How to survive a lightning strike — or, better yet, avoid one

But those are tiny groups considering the country has a population of over 300 million and the U.S. experiences over 25 million lightning strikes a year, the weather service says. It is also worth noting that 90% of lightning strike victims survive.

Still, here are a few things you can do to lessen your chances.

“When the thunder rages, go into the house”

The National Weather Service has a simple but effective slogan: “When the thunder roars, get indoors.”

As soon as you hear thunder, see lightning, or the sky looks ominous, head indoors as soon as possible.

“The most important thing is that you’re safe in a big, solid building or a fully enclosed vehicle with a metal roof,” Ron Holle, meteorologist and lightning protection specialist with the National Lightning Safety Council, told CNN. “It’s not safe anywhere outside of those two locations.”

A solid building means a structure with proper wiring and plumbing, Holle explained. Tents, sheds, shelters and picnic areas are not safe from lightning strikes.

Because when lightning strikes a house or other building, it travels through the pipes and cables to grounded poles, which conduct all electricity safely to the ground. A tent or smaller shelter offers no such protection.

If you hear thunder while camping or on the beach without access to a large structure, seek shelter in your vehicle immediately.

According to the weather service, you should wait 30 minutes after the last thunder to exit the vehicle.

Cyclists or motorcyclists who hear thunder should stop at a secure building and also wait until 30 minutes have passed since the last rumble.

Avoid indoor lightning

OK, you heard thunder and went into an actual building. Good news: “You’re infinitely safer inside than outside,” says Holle.

The next step, according to the National Weather Service, is to close the windows and avoid using wired electrical devices.

“You don’t want to be tied down with wires and cords like a corded phone or device when lightning strikes the house,” explains Holle. “Hanging your hands on running water in the sink or in the bathtub” also poses a risk, he said.

You should also stay away from balconies, porches, garages, windows and doors to the outside, says the weather service.

And if the exterior isn’t safe for people during a storm, it’s not safe for pets either. Bring your pets indoors as soon as possible if you hear thunder, according to the Weather Service. Kennels offer no protection from lightning strikes, and tree-tied dogs are particularly at risk, the agency said.

Save the boat ride for another day

Most large boats with cabins are fairly safe during thunderstorms, according to the Weather Service. Small boats without a cabin are a different story.

“The vast majority of lightning injuries and fatalities on boats occur on small boats without a cabin,” the weather service says. “It’s crucial to hear weather information when you’re boating.”

The service advises people not to take the boat when thunderstorms are forecast. If you hear thunder on the water, you should return to shore as soon as possible—and ideally be at least 100 meters from shore.

If you can’t go ashore, it’s best to drop anchor, go as low as you can, and stay in the cabin — and stay away from metal surfaces, like the radio you may have originally used to track the weather.

But if you’re not on the boat — or the boat doesn’t have a cabin — it’s actually better to stay in deep water during the storm than to return on board, according to the weather agency.

One last resort: stay safe outdoors

An important lightning avoidance strategy is awareness and planning.

Read the weather forecast and find out if thunderstorms are likely in the places where you are staying. Plan your schedule so that you can avoid being outside when thunderstorms are expected. Professional lightning detectors can also be used to warn when lightning is approaching.

“When you’re outside, you’re very vulnerable to lightning,” Holle said.

If it’s not possible to get inside, there are still a few things that can reduce your risk somewhat.

During a thunderstorm, avoid open fields, the top of a hill, or the top of a ridge, the weather service says. Likewise, you should stay away from tall, isolated objects like trees and leave bodies of water immediately. Of course, you should also avoid wet or metallic objects that could conduct electricity.

Lower areas like valleys and canyons are safer. If you’re in a group, spread out to prevent currents from flowing between people, the weather service says. And don’t lie flat on the floor.

Still, Holle noted that the evidence for many of these lightning avoidance strategies is still unclear.

The important thing is to get inside: Almost all lightning deaths in the US in recent decades have occurred outside, he said.

Lightning strikes around the world

“Most people in the US have a lightning-proof building or vehicle very close by and all they have to do is drive there,” Holle said. “For millions of people around the world, this is not the case.”

They advocate for better lightning protection education and the installation of working lightning protection systems for schools and other buildings.

Survive a lightning strike

Although the vast majority of victims of a lightning strike survive, the effects can be severe and long-lasting.

Survivors have suffered debilitating injuries, burns, and lasting disabilities, including symptoms such as seizures and memory loss.

If someone near you is struck by lightning, call 911 right away, says the National Weather Service.