010 // Zuza was struck by lightning

Rescued: An Outdoor Podcast for Hikers and Adventurers

There’s something about the immense power of lightning that has fascinated cultures and people throughout the centuries.

How it behaves, how it moves through the sky and the force and damage that it can bring.

If news reports are anything to go by, it would be easy to think that being struck by lightning only happens to golfers or beach anglers.

My guest today is neither of those and shares her story of being struck by lightning while leading an outdoor activity on a school camp.

Checkout this resource from Outdoors NSW & ACT: https://www.outdoorsnswact.org/post/lightning-and-outdoor-activities-update

And here from Bushwalking Victoria's Bushwalking Manual.

Lessons for being around lightning:

• Current advice based on Australian Standard Lightning protection AS 1768:2021; Clause 6.4.2. is: all outdoor activities should stop once thunder is heard, or in the event of weather tracking devices, the storm is 15 kilometres away regardless of the timing of the thunder and lightning.
• Understand the previous advice of the 30:30 rule and how that has changed
• If in a group, don't stay together - spread out
• Get down from high points like ridges and knolls-be low on the landscape
• Don't shelter in overhangs or caves
• Realise that 'taking shelter' means shelter from the lightning, not the rain
• Always check forecasts