This Debunked Lightning Safety Tip Just Won’t Die—and It’s Still Dangerous

If you get caught outdoors during a lightning storm, safety experts once recommended adopting a crouched position to lessen your chances of being struck by lightning. It turns out, however, that the position doesn’t make you any safer. In response to social media and other internet sources allegedly spreading misinformation about lightning safety, the National Lightning Safety Council (NLSC) is re-emphasizing the fact that the “crouch” is outdated advice, and urged educators and weather broadcasters to stop recommending it. “If you’re caught outside during a thunderstorm, the best plan of action is to move as fast as you can to a safer place,” John Jensenius, a lightning safety specialist with the NLSC, said in a statement released by Loehr Lightning Protection Co. “The sooner you get to a safe place, the lower your risk. Crouching only prolongs the risk of being struck,” explained Jensenius. The crouch isn’t just outdated—it was debunked almost 20 years ago. But despite the fact th ... Read full article.