they say you shouldn't talk on the phone in a lightning storm... what about a cell phone or portable?
361215
not a problem on your cell phone or portable,but do not use your land line that is plugged into the wall.I have lost a friend to this and don't recommend it.Another thing unplug your computer in a lightning storm Ive lost a computer do to this .
923031
very, i lost everything in my computer once because of lightning. if you're sure to unplug your computer whenever theres a storm coming, you should be alright
471983
I have a cell phone but rarely use it......I don't see anything "cool" about it. It is convenient for emergencies : that's all.
208468
Your car is a safer place to be in an electrical storm because, if struck, the metal frame of your car will provide the path of least resistance (which is what electricity always takes) to the ground. Your car and all its electrical systems will be fried, but you should be safe (as long as you are not directly touching that metal frame).\n\nAnd as for your rubber tires providing insulation ... think again, because that small amount of rubber will do very little to stop a lightning bolt with somewhere over 10 million volts of power
684460
Ben Franklin--Go fly a kite in a lightning storm and attach a key. It is  sure to be en-lightning..lol
409594
Lightning can and does strike houses, but seldom with any injuries or fatalities. Stay away from electric appliances, electrical outlets, exposed plumbing, and don't talk on the phone unless its cordless. Never take a bath or a shower during a thunder and lightning storm. Avoid windows, and unplug the power cords to your computer, including the telephone cable going into your modem.
454746
NO CELL PHONE!!!!  Those are used to set of the IED's.  And a mistaken call on the wrong frequency can kill someone.  They had those satelite phones over there, but those do cost an arm and a leg.  As it it, they should be more concerned about getting through a day than calling to chat.  Standing in line a the phone center every now and then is frustraiting, but there is no need to call home every ten minutes.  Don't bother.
680198
Your concept of the linesman is correct, however, being immersed in a body of water is dangerous.  Lightning carries a far greater potential than that of what the linesman faces.  True, there is no conduction of current to ground, but the copter and the line must be equalized before contact can be made.  This is because of the state of "STATIC ELECTRICITY".  Energy that is "Static" is not moving.  Nevertheless, when it comes in contact with another object, one who's energy level is at a different potential, the energy no longer remains static.  The sudden rush of current will be felt.  That's why when you cross the rug and grab the door knob you get a shock.  You have a significantly higher potential than the door knob and when you touch it there is a rush of energy trying to equalize the differences.\n\nBeing in a pool at essentially zero volts and a crack of lightning hits close by, the ground and the water in the pool will charge up before dissipating the lightning strike, possibly leaving you dead.  Wouldn't that ruin your day?\n\nDuring lightning storms stay out of the pool or the tub, do not be running the sink and stay off the phone (cordless phones do not apply in this case as there is no direct wiring to the outside world).  There have been documented cases where persons on the phone have been struck in the head by lightning, again it's due to that equalization of energy levels thing.\n\nHey, even if everyone is wrong, wanna risk your life?  You could die in a tub if someone dropped something electrical in the water.  True, your assumption is that water conducts better than the human body, but that is a wrong assumption.  Pure water is an insulator.  It's the impurity in water that makes it conduct.  Our bodies are actually much better conductors of electricity.  Don't believe me?  Ask someone like an electric shop teacher.\n\nI hesitate to give you a test to try because of the danger of electrocution, but if I were at your house I could demonstrate in a matter of seconds that what I am saying is true.  But for the sake of not causing someone to try a potentially dangerous experiment I'll not be specific.\n\nHowever, if you must know, e-mail me and we can chat.  When I am confident of your ability to conduct the test safely then I will tell you how to do this.
369302
Q: Is it safer to swim in salt water than fresh water if lightning is in the area?\n\nA: It is definitely NOT safe to swim when lightning is in the area in any type of water. Even if current lightning is a few miles away, lightning can pop up in new parts of the storm very quickly. Salt water conducts electricity, which means that it can easily travel through the water toward you. The lightning current may spread out in all directions and dissipate within 20 feet or so, but don’t bet your life on how close the strike will be. As the highest object on the water, you may be the most likely target. \n\nAnswers archive: Lightning safety and survival\nhttp://www.usatoday.com/weather/resources/askjack/archives-lightning-safety.htm\n\n-------------\n\n The voltages involved in lightning are so high that even materials that would normally be considered non-conductive become conductors, including the human body. The voltages are so massive that if they start to travel through a boat's structure - say through its mast - then meet with high resistance (for instance, the hull skin) the current discharge, in its attempt to reach ground, may simply blow a hole in the non-conductive barrier. The safety conscious Captain should make sure that his vessel is properly protected. Reference should be made in detail to the standards for lightning protection as set forth by the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) and the job should be performed by a licensed marine electrician.\n\nCone of Protection from Lightning - Faraday's Cage\nhttp://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/lightning.htm\n\n------------------------------\n\nElectrical current can easily travel through them and then to you.\n\nLightning protection tips\nhttp://www.aroundcentralflorida.com/features/lightning/
648006
Its said that cell phones.. When you're blabbing away on your cell phone, did you know that your voice is transmitted from the antenna as radio frequency radiation? In fact, your voice puts out about half as much radiation as a microwave. Too bad we can't cook up a meal simply by talking to it on our cell phone.\n\nIt shouldn't come as a surprise that with that much radiation flowing from your phone, there's a good chance it's going to soak into your brain and cause some kind of damage. Cell phone users are at risk for getting rare brain tumors. In fact, studies have found that the rare tumors happen on the same side of the head that people usually use to talk on their cell phones.\n\nMillions of people use their cell phone on a daily basis - America alone has about 123 million cell phone users. Are you one of them? If so, you are putting a high-powered transmitter against your head - about an inch away from your brain. So don't sound so shocked to hear that talking on your cell phone might cause some serious damage.
401467
How can the heat and radio waves be good for you brain. Just buy yourself a hands-free and you will be set.
640289
Like everything else there is a time and a place.  I turn my cellphone off when I am going to go out to spend time at a social event. I put the phone on vibrate when I am going to a public place like the library , the store, or any where else that my conversation over the phone would distract others. Should a call be received in a restaurant, and if it is accepted, a person should excuse themselves from the table and go to a private area to continue the conversation. \n   No, I don't think people have any kind of cellphone etiquette. They haven't been taught like they were taught telephone manners, years ago. And there is nothing written today. People are like thougtless children. Not giving the slightest thought to the effects of their actions on people around them.
569138
interesting question! \n\nim originally from arizona where they have freak monsoon storms. they say in you car, away from the tv and windows. otherwise, i doesnt matter. if the lightning hits a tree and the tree hits the house... u r screwed regaurdless!!
144988
If lightning was the problem, no surge supressor or UPS can provide sufficient protection. If you know that a thunderstorm is on the way, the best protection is to shut down the computer and unplug it from the wall.
1125723
If it is being struck by lighting that you are concerned about, there are a few measures that you can take:  Indoors is the safest place to be.  Don't use the phone.  I read once of a man who was hit by lightning as he sat on the toilet - a bolt hit his septic system and traveled into the plumbing.  If outside, don't be the tallest thing around.  If you are outside and you feel the hair on your arms, for example, stand upright, a bolt is about to strike nearby.  Crouch down as low as you can.
58906
As opposed to a shoe-phone? I'm guessing a rotory phone right? Advantage: It works even in a power outage. When they break you can take the dynamo out and shock the hell out of your freinds. Disadvantage: Never portable and no features. Also when they break your freinds can take out the dynamo and shock the hell out of you.
1180080
A car's frame is made of metal.  If lightning strikes the car, the metal will conduct around you through the metal because metal is a better conductor than your body is.  Unsafe is electricity going through you.  Do not stand upright in a storm or even under a tree.  Also don't lay flat on the ground because if lightening strikes near you, the conduction through the ground may offer more resistence than your body and the electricity may take a shortcut through your body.  Best thing without a car is to squat down.