Cell Phone Use During Stormy Weather... An Electrifying Experience?

Filed in archive Cases , Studies on June 26, 2006

When I was growing up, I remember my mom warning me against talking on the phone during a storm. She claimed that I could be struck by lightning. I never paid a whole lot of attention to that advice. I guess I was lucky that I didn't have many friends that I needed to talk to that badly during a thunderstorm.

As it turns out, though, my mom might have been right. Some doctors are now saying that talking on a cell phone during a thunderstorm really can be dangerous. According to an article on FoxNews, a letter on the subject of cell phone use during thunderstorms appeared in the British Medical Journal. The letter stated that people who use or just carry a cell phone during a storm may be putting themselves at greater risk of being struck and killed by lightning.

The doctors justify their hypothesis by explaining a phenomenon called "flashover". Human skin naturally resists transmitting electricity. When lightning strikes human skin, it usually travels along the skin. But, the doctors believe that conductive materials like liquids or metals can interrupt flashover, which could result in an especially shocking experience as the electricity is directed into the body, causing internal damage.

But Vladimir Rakov, a lightning expert at the University of Florida, scoffs at the hypothesis. He believes the scenario is unlikely and that people who are concerned about being struck by lightning would do better to just stay inside during a storm! I like Rakov's practical approach, but perhaps I'll stay off my cell phone during the next thunderstorm anyway, just to be safe!

About the author: In her spare time, knotheadus writes for Epinions.com and maintains her own Web site, knot-heads.com.