ATOT Public Service Announcement

[Amdiggidy]

Behold the mighty power of the cell phone... 😛

Hang up your cell or get hit by lightning
Don't use your mobile phone outdoors in a storm, doctors warn

Updated: 8:16 p.m. CT June 22, 2006
LONDON - People should not use mobile phones outdoors during thunderstorms because of the risk of being struck by lightning, doctors said on Friday.

They reported the case of a 15-year-old girl who was using her phone in a park when she was hit during a storm. Although she was revived, she suffered persistent health problems and was using a wheelchair a year after the accident.

"This rare phenomenon is a public health issue, and education is necessary to highlight the risk of using mobile phones outdoors during stormy weather to prevent future fatal consequences from lighting strike injuries," said Swinda Esprit, a doctor at Northwick Park Hospital in England.

Esprit and other doctors at the hospital added in a letter to the British Medical Journal that usually when someone is struck by lightning, the high resistance of the skin conducts the flash over the body in what is known as a flashover.

But if a metal object, such as a phone, is in contact with the skin it disrupts the flashover and increases the odds of internal injuries and death.

The doctors added that three fatal cases of lightning striking people while using mobile phones have been reported in newspapers in China, South Korea and Malaysia.

"The Australian Lightning Protection Standard recommends that metallic objects, including cordless or mobile phones, should not be used (or carried) outdoors during a thunderstorm," Esprit added.

"Can you hear me now?" **BOOM**

 

[Ika]

good, now that means people wont be glued to their cell phones as much. or they'll get owned. either way its cool.

 

[EngenZerO]

bluetooth headsets ftw!!!

 

[Ika]

Originally posted by: EngenZerO
bluetooth headsets ftw!!!

But if a metal object, such as a phone, is in contact with the skin it disrupts the flashover and increases the odds of internal injuries and death.

wouldn't a headset still have the same effect?

 

[EngenZerO]

Originally posted by: guoziming

Originally posted by: EngenZerO
bluetooth headsets ftw!!!

But if a metal object, such as a phone, is in contact with the skin it disrupts the flashover and increases the odds of internal injuries and death.

wouldn't a headset still have the same effect?

i thought most phones were plastic with silicon internals... same as a headset... so i dunno...

 

[Rogeee]

"This rare phenomenon is a public health issue, and education is necessary to highlight the risk of using mobile phones outdoors during stormy weather to prevent future fatal consequences from lighting strike injuries," said Swinda Esprit, a doctor at Northwick Park Hospital in England

 

[jjones]

When it starts to rain and lightning, I just pull out my one iron and hold it over my head, because I know even God can't hit a one iron.