Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Is It Safe To Swim In The Rain with Lightning??

Just wondering. Back in my lifeguarding days, in an indoor pool, if there was lighting, we cleared the pool. Around here - not so much.

Okay, maybe I really didn't feel like swimming. It was a long, tough workout. And I know, I wrote it. I kept stalling by talking to everyone, just to avoid getting moving. But about 700 yds into the workout, we could see flashes from the lightning. I asked the lifeguard and she said it was fine, she swam threw lightning storms - but I could get out if I didn't feel comfortable.

Blah, what type of "DC Tri Club board member in charge of training" would I be if I quit. So I kept going. It never felt great (except for the straight 500) but I am glad I kept going. And there were some really great people I was swimming with, so that helps.

This Bay Swim is coming up way to fast and I need to get in these last few swims. Good thing I didn't electrocuted today in the pool. That would have stunk.

4 comments:

TV Zombie said...

Marie Reed closes for lightning, but that may just be because the lifeguards who work there will use any excuse to close.

Nice picture!

Catharine said...

Can you explain this closing b/c of lighting thing? I don't get it. W-L closed once on me and I never heard of such a thing. My friend told me her BF won't shower during a thunderstorm. I don't get it.

Amanda said...

Umm... I guess it's not safe

From USA today
Question: This may seem naive but having lived in Los Angeles for most of my life, I am not really certain if swimming during a storm is safe. If it's not, why?

Answer: Swimming during a thunderstorm is one of the most dangerous things you can do. Lightning regularly strikes water, and since water conducts electricity, a nearby lightning strike could kill or injure you.

Any time you hear thunder, or see lightning, you should get out of the water and into a safe place. A picnic-type shelter is not a safe place in a thunderstorm. Instead, you should be in a building with walls, or a metal vehicle.

To be really safe, you should not swim in an indoor pool when lightning is around.

with a link to
http://www.lightningsafety.com/nlsi_pls/indoor_pools.html

Anonymous said...

The reason it's not safe to swim indoors during lightening is that many electrical systems, residential at least, are grounded to the water pipes in the building. If lightening were to strike the building or very near by, the electrical charge COULD travel through the system or ground to the water pipes serving the pool, and guess what would happen then? The same is true for taking a shower or using a land line telephone. A lightening strike in the right place could electrocute you. That's the theory anyway.