Show ll 1 J 1 V J l THE T hE tr-a. tr By B E. E II IL SIMS Wit With summer not far away awny and summer lightning storms or thunderstorms approaching the facts about lightning become become be be- come ome especially timely timely- Lightning it is true kills a number of people people each year Dangerous pl places ces are under abig a abig a abig big tree in the bathtub or around or between sizable metal objects objects during during a lightning lightning lightning light light- ning storm In the average all all- metal automobile or in an all metal airplane you are safe Lightning is caused by up and down drafts in thunderheads thunderheads thunderheads thunder- thunder heads which change the electrical electrical electrical elec elec- composition of th the air or negative charge Such Sucha a cloud area coming near an oppositely-charged oppositely object exchanges exchanges exchanges ex ex- changes electrical ch charges with it If you observe that lightning lightning lightning light light- ning is active in the west it will win probably be upon you soon soon but seeing it in other directions usually means it will not molest you The old rule for judging fudging the distance of lightning by counting the seconds is valid You see the flash count a number a second until you hear thunder Then divide the seconds by five because sound travels traveIs only a fifth of a mile milea a second Your answer is the distance of the lightning from you you you-in in miles Look for lightning in the thc warmer wanner months in thunderheads thunderheads thunder- thunder heads or in turbulent clouds A few simple precautions will win reduce your chances of being hit to almost nil |