Last week there were 5 lightning deaths in the United States.
The latest of them, Scott Pasour, 54, was struck by lightning in North Carolina. The accident occurred when he stopped with two friends to put on their rain gear. His two friends - who were unharmed - said they had not seen any lightning until the fatal event.
This brings the total to 5 lightning deaths across the U.S. in the last week alone. According to John Jensenius Jr., a Lightning Safety Specialist for the National Weather Service (NWS), the annual average is 49 deaths and hundreds of people injured by lightning.
The specialist also stated that an average of 25 million lightning strikes are estimated to occur across the United States each year. "Most are harmless, both to people and the environment," he said.
But you have to be especially careful with lightning at this time of year. Summer storms and summer activities, such as going to the beach or the mountains, pose a greater risk. If you are caught in a storm, it is best to find shelter in a building or vehicle. Although it is common knowledge, we should never take shelter under a tree as it poses more risk. Finally, if there is no other option, you should try to stay as low as possible.
