“Lightning does not strike a point, it strikes an area,” said John Jensenius, a lightning safety specialist with the National Weather Service. “The physical flash you see strikes a point, but that lightning is radiating out as ground current and it’s very deadly.”

[–] Mac@mander.xyz 6 points 2 months ago (5 children)

Thank you, I didn't know that.

[–] knightly@pawb.social 14 points 2 months ago (4 children)

Part of the problem is that we have two feet. When lightning strikes the ground nearby, it creates a difference in electric potential between the foot that's closest to the impact point and the more distant one. If that potential is great enough, then an electric currect can jump through one's shoe, go up into the body then down the other leg and back to ground.

Laying down only increases the surface area in contact with the ground, so the best thing to do is get inside.

[–] killea@lemmy.world 8 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Can I just stand on one foot then?

[–] knightly@pawb.social 12 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Feet have non-zero surface area so there's still room for an electric potential between the near and far side of the foot. It'd be smaller so that isn't an entirely terrible idea, but it is by no means foolproof.

[–] kewko@sh.itjust.works 6 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I think as long as it doesn't pass through your heart,you'll be fine with some cooked flesh

[–] Soggy@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago

"Fine". Burns are very serious injuries prone to infection. Internal injuries are way harder to diagnose and treat. That's a rough combination.

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