Is It Dangerous to Bathe During a Thunderstorm?

Myths about lightning abound, but this one is true: It's safest to avoid running the taps during a thunderstorm. Learn why in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/climate-weather/storms/dangerous-to-bathe-during-thunderstorm.htm

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to brain Stuff, a production of iHeart Radio, Hey
brain Stuff, Lauren Vogel bomb here is it dangerous to
bathe in a thunderstorm? A bathtub would be a lot easier? Seriously, though,
it's long been rumored that taking a nice hot soak
in the tub or enjoying a shower is a dangerous

(00:23):
proposition when electricity is coursing through the sky. The basic
answer is yes, absolutely, it's better to put off bathing
until after the thunder stops rolling. But let's discuss why
this is even a question. There are a lot of
myths about lightning. Understandably, it's pretty mythic. Bolt of lightning

(00:45):
is hotter than the surface of the sun. It can
reach some fifty degrees fahrenheit. But for example, a plane
getting hit by lightning isn't usually that bit of a deal.
Although pilots do try to avoid thunderstorms, planes are built
too safely conduct currents, and, contrary to the saying lightning
will strike the same place twice a many tall structures

(01:06):
are hit. Often. Even the old rubber tires on a
car will protect you from lightning strikes. Adage is false.
A car is safe because it has a metal roof
and sides to conduct the current to the ground. There
are a lot of common misconceptions about how lightning works
and what it can affect, so it's not that weird
to think that the old don't shower during a storm

(01:28):
line is just another myth. But don't be mistaken about
this one. It really is dangerous to bathe during a thunderstorm,
and not just theoretically dangerous. Ten to twenty people a
year in the u s alone are injured while messing
around with household water during a storm, and that doesn't
just mean sitting in the tub waiting for literal lightning

(01:49):
to strike. Doing the dishes, or even just using faucets
can be dangerous too. The reasons are grounded in the pipes.
A lot of pipes used in household plumbing are made
of metal, which attracts and conducts a bolt of electricity,
and the water itself, even if it doesn't contain conducive impurities,
which it probably does, will help conduct the electricity. So

(02:13):
cover yourself in the wet stuff, either in a shower,
bath or just using the faucet in general, and you
help that electric current jump right to you. But running
the taps or Bathing during a thunderstorm isn't the biggest
threat for health and welfare. Every year, around twenty people
in the US are killed due to lightning strikes and
hundreds more are injured, though most often when they're outside

(02:36):
and a flat, open area like a beach or a
golf course. Still, the National Weather Service does not take
this risk lightly. The agency advises that during a thunderstorm,
it's best to go inside and stay away from plumbing
and faucets, an excellent excuse to skip during the dishes
during a dark and stormy night. Today's episode is based

(03:01):
on the article is it dangerous to bathe during a thunderstorm?
On how stuff works dot com, written by Kate Kirshner.
Brain Stuff is production by Heart Radio in partnership with
how stuff works dot Com and is produced by Tyler Klang.
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