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 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 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
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 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 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 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 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 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. Four more podcasts from my heart Radio. Visit the i heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.