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Original poster

Do you know to get out of the water if there's lighting around?

110 replies

MaggieFS · 03/09/2021 14:01

I'm currently on holiday and we're having frequent thunderstorms. There's one now and most people have left the pool but one family of two adults and two 5ish year old children and still swimming and have just cheered at an almighty grumble from the Gods.

It's a private apartment block so no lifeguards. I grew up in a hot country so it's ingrained to get out of the water but it's just set me wondering if people brought up in the UK who have less chance to swim outside and less frequent thunderstorms really know this?

OP posts:
IveGotASongThatllGetOnYNerves · 03/09/2021 14:34

I know it but I don't remember having been taught it. It's just common sense, surely

NeverTalkToStrangers · 03/09/2021 14:34

I know about it if I think for a milli-second, but it's not instinctive because I haven't been in that situation for such a long time. I might well carry on swimming and then when one of the family eventually clicked we'd all suddenly say "oh shit! yes of course!" and jump out.

burritofan · 03/09/2021 14:37

I didn’t know! I love swimming in the rain and would probably have cheered a good thunderstorm too Blush

The question about sea life reminded me of my favourite meme ever

Do you know to get out of the water if there's lighting around?
Original poster
MaggieFS · 03/09/2021 14:37

@SirSamuelVimes

Surely that's the very definition of lack of common sense?! If you know what lightning is, and know that water conducts electricity (or just that water and electricity don't mix, which my DD knew from five at least) the ability to put two and two together is basic common sense, isn't it??

Perhaps when phrased like that, but there are a few 'if this' and 'if that' involved so I'm being kind and thinking perhaps it's not obvious rather than call people stupid when it possibly hasn't occurred to them and have never had reason to think about it.

Anyway, I would clearly make a crap weather girl as the storm hasn't come more towards us, and although it's still rumbling away, there is some bright sunshine and another five people are in the pool too 🤦‍♀️

OP posts:
Madwife123 · 03/09/2021 14:37

I wouldn’t have thought of it. I mean logically it makes sense but it wouldn’t have entered my head.

I would appreciate being told by someone and would get out straight away. Have you told them? I doubt they are willingly putting their children at risk.

RampantIvy · 03/09/2021 14:38

I knew this, and went to school in England.

When on holiday in Orlando 5 years ago they would get everyone out of the pool and close it when a thunderstorm approached.

On another holiday, we were in Galveston in Texas when a storm approached. There were lifeguards running up and down the beach with megaphone shouting at people to get out of the water.

Original poster
MaggieFS · 03/09/2021 14:40

Now having a 'debate' with 3yo DS who is up from his nap, wants a swim and can't understand why I won't let him when 'but there are other people in the swimming pool'.

OP posts:
DinosApple · 03/09/2021 14:42

I've never had cause to think about it. Last time I swam in the sea was decades ago. But yes it wouldn't be sensible to stay in the water, and no, it's not something I was told by my parents or taught.

It falls into the same category as parents telling their DC from a young age not to wave their phones/umbrellas about when there's lightning - nor to stand at the top of a hill under a lone tree.

That's the sort of thing I say to my DC when there's storms and we're camping - I'll add it to the list whilst DC roll their eyes saying we know!

Supertree · 03/09/2021 14:43

No, I didn't know and have never thought about it. Never been in an outdoor pool either. I'm not sure it would have occurred to me either. I'd like to think that I would have considered it as soon as I realised there was a thunderstorm, but I can't say for definite. I would be glad if somebody pointed it out to me and get out straight away. I'd also feel like a complete idiot.

EstuaryBird · 03/09/2021 14:43

@burritofan

I didn’t know! I love swimming in the rain and would probably have cheered a good thunderstorm too Blush

The question about sea life reminded me of my favourite meme ever

First thing I thought of too!

Love that meme 😂😊

careerchangeperhaps · 03/09/2021 14:44

Yes I knew. But probably only because I've been in Florida during a storm and the lifeguards evacuated Wet and Wild at a great pace when lightning started flashing nearby.

megletthesecond · 03/09/2021 14:45

Yes. I knew.

starfishmummy · 03/09/2021 14:48

I didn't know. But it would be a cold day in hell before I immersed myself in any type of outdoor water so I guess it's never cropped up.

Mommabear20 · 03/09/2021 14:50

I do as my family frequently went on holiday to Florida where storms are very common, but many of my friends wouldn't know too. Have just asked DH and he said he didn't know it was a thing.

Miniroofbox · 03/09/2021 14:50

Yes. I don’t know how I know it though. Ive known it a long time (remember getting out of an outdoor pool in a storm as a child)

CraftyGin · 03/09/2021 14:51

@TaraR2020

I'd be unsurprised if many people in the UK are ignorant of it. I've never been taught to, even though I grew up near water, but commonsense would tell me to do so (and has).

I suppose it would come down to a person's ability to think laterally and how reinforced the danger of not mixing water and electricity is for them.

I've always wondered how sealife seem to survive.

Sealife is underwater.

If a person is swimming, their head becomes the high spot for the lightning to seek.

FramboiseRoyale · 03/09/2021 14:52

I have known all my life. But I am from Florida, the lightning capital of the world, by some accounts.

SleepingStandingUp · 03/09/2021 14:54

I mean it makes sense but i wouldn't have thought a pool was likely to be struck. Never stand under a tree. Dont be the highest think in the locality. Dont hold an umbrella or golf club.

None of those suggest a greater risk of being hit because I'm in a pool amongst tall buildings

Dollywilde · 03/09/2021 14:59

When I was a kid I swam twice a week at a pool that was ‘indoor’ but in a sort of temporary structure. Even then we had to get out during storms due to lightning risk. Had forgotten about that until now but I’d always get out if a storm started so it must have lodged in my brain somehow…

whatausername · 03/09/2021 15:01

@SleepingStandingUp

I mean it makes sense but i wouldn't have thought a pool was likely to be struck. Never stand under a tree. Dont be the highest think in the locality. Dont hold an umbrella or golf club.

None of those suggest a greater risk of being hit because I'm in a pool amongst tall buildings

It's a myth that lightning always strikes the tallest object.
Heatherjayne1972 · 03/09/2021 15:03

I thought it was an urban myth

SolitaryTree · 03/09/2021 15:03

I only found out on a holiday to America a couple of years ago in summer months when there where storms every day. Lifeguards would close the pools when there was a storm but open back up again once the safe time had passed. Wouldn’t have had a clue to get out if there hadn’t been someone to tell us!

icedcoffees · 03/09/2021 15:06

I was never taught it and didn't realise it was a "thing" until we went on holiday in Italy and the staff there went round and cleared the hotel pool when it started to rain.

I was about 6-7 years old at the time, maybe a little older.

NiceGerbil · 03/09/2021 15:12

OP I'd go and tell the people in the pool tbh..!

No I didn't know this. I mean never thought about it at all.

We don't tend to have weather that most people would think ok for outdoor swimming. And I mean you've got the coast. A few outdoor pools. A few lakes and things. If you are near them and go in a lot maybe more likely to have thought of it. Dunno.

I mean one sec thought and oh yeah well that's sensible but if you've literally never given it a seconds thought ..

I just don't think many people here are in water outdoors enough and we don't get nearly as many thunderstorms when it's hot and and.

Yeah.

Why don't you go and tell them though! I mean they might ignore you but at least you tried!