DO LIGHTNING RODS WORK?
Yes. Lightning rods, invented by none other than Ben Franklin, neither attract nor repeal lightning bolts. They do, however, provide a safe path to ground for the flash. Indoor plumbing, which includes pipes buried deep in the ground and vents extending above the roof, have long served as surrogate lightning rods for homes. However with the trend towards using PVC rather than metal pipes, this “free” lightning protection has vanished from many newer homes. But to be effective lightning rods must be properly grounded, and there should be no sharp bends in the cable leading from the air terminal (the pointed rod) to the grounding rod. What sporting activities are prone to lightning danger? Virtually anything you do outside during spring and summer involves a lightning risk. Swimming, boating, hiking, golfing, soccer…if you are out there, you are a target. Most lightning deaths in the U.S. (in descending order) occur (1) in open fields or ball fields, (2) under trees, (3) while boating
