Does lightning strike indoor swimming pools? Has anyone ever been hurt or killed?
Ann, Oberlin, Ohio Lightning strikes indoor swimming pools. That’s why lifeguards yell, “Everybody out of the pool!” when lightning gets within six to eight miles. Current from a lightning strike can invade an indoor pool, and hurt people. Here’s how: Lightning strikes a power pole outside the pool building. A surge of current races along the electrical wires from the power pole to the pump in the building. The pump moves water and, therefore, contains water; water conducts electricity. The current surge flows from pump wires into pump water, which conducts the electric current into pool water and water splashed around the area. This endangers people in the pool and walking on the wet floors, because the current then flows through people to ground, along any of various paths: A person standing in the pool, one climbing on the ladder, another touching the underwater lights. The huge current could injure or kill all such people. When lightning is within five miles of an indoor pool, safe
