On video: A man was killed by a lightning strike in a kibbutz in Emek Hefer (photo: MDA spokespersons)
Kobi Mashek was killed today (Thursday) in Emek Hefer from a lightning strike.
Following the incident, many questions arise about how to be careful during a lightning storm.
This, despite the low chance of anyone getting hurt.
Lightning carries a current of about 25,000 amperes, and some even reach up to 300,000 amperes.
For the sake of comparison - an average household outlet has a current of 10-15 amperes.
In Israel there are many reports of lightning strikes every winter, and since the establishment of the country between 30-40 people have died from lightning that struck them directly.
Common to almost all cases - they were wet or near a water source.
So what does this mean about showering or even washing dishes?
As mentioned, most of the victims in Israel were near a source of water or wet, and in contact with some kind of conductive metal pole, fishing rod, fence or bicycle.
Even the president of the country, Shimon Peres, was on a plane that was struck by lightning during a flight in a rainstorm from Milan to Israel in 2011. Fortunately, there were no casualties, but as a general rule, in the sophisticated planes in which passengers fly today, there is no real danger of being struck by lightning thanks to the lightning repellent equipment on the plane.
Lightning strike (Photo: Surfers' Photos, Mald Toma)
Even so, it is best to avoid showers or washing dishes during a lightning storm.
The contact with the water while in contact with the pipes, which are sometimes metallic, can be dangerous.
Since lightning is in front of you in the pipeline, you should avoid showering, bathing, washing dishes or washing your hands during a storm to reduce the risk of injury.
A lightning strike is dangerous for many reasons, and it may occur as a result of the current of electricity or as a result of the intensity of the heat.
A direct lightning strike is often fatal.
You can also be injured in a blunt way, skin injuries and burns.
Brain damage, eye damage and muscle damage.
Due to the impact of the lightning, an object may move from its place and hit you.
It is important to note that not every lightning strike will cause death.
Take for example the famous story of Roy Sullivan, who is called "the human lightning conductor", who was a forest ranger in the USA for 30 years and was struck by lightning seven times without being killed. He even broke a Guinness record in the dubious category that still stands even though he died already 40 years ago.
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