risk of electrocution from a cell phone during a lightning storm

[VirtualLarry]

Ok, I call a friend of mine, a female, who thinks she knows a lot about computers but really doesn't. ("Can't listen to AOL music at the same time as logging into the Pogo web site to play games. Don't have AOL toolbar. Can you help me? I used to be able to do this with my old computer.") (I built her her new computer.)

Anyways, I mention that there's a thunderstorm outside, and she immediately says, "shouldn't you get off the phone, you'll get electrocuted!". I inform her that no, I'm on a CELL phone, and that there isn't a risk, but then she re-iterates, "you can still get electrocuted!".

So I call a different friend, someone who is a dedicated MMO gamer, and knows a decent amount about computers, but still has someone else upgrade and work on his PC. (Ok, perhaps he doesn't know as much as he thinks he knows, because he refuses to install his new router that I sold him, he's waiting for me to get back from vacation to install it for him. How hard can it be, two cables??)

But anyways, I figure he has half a clue, so I relay the story, and he too, seems to think that there is a higher risk of electrocution when talking on a cell phone.

Mind you, in both scenarios, this is indoors. Not standing outside in the weather.

Am I nuts, or is everyone else?

How the F is talking on the cell phone any more of an electrocution risk than not talking on a cell phone?

Edit: PS. Yes, I know I need to find more intelligent friends. It's not easy. Unless I invite all of AT highly technical forum over for coffee or something.

 

[theflyingpig]

No, there is no threat. Your friend is a fool. Everyone knows this.

 

[Gothgar]

i dont think there is

 

[Nohr]

I'd be a lot more worried about your IQ dropping while talking to your friends than getting zapped.

 

[newb111]

The threat is no greater than standing without a cell phone.

 

[spidey07]

Well technically you are interfering with the EM field around you, so it's possibly conceivable that the risk is increased. But what is most likely is the carry over from people getting hit from lightning while on a hard wired phone, happens all the time. So they associated talking on the phone with an increased risk.

 

[PepePeru]

wow.

I am going to start selling 'THOR-TECTION' devices.

Attach this advanced THOR-TECTION device to your cell phone. You're now free to speak on your cell phone without fear of electrocution from lightning strikes

Only $49.95

I suppose if you were charging your cell phone and talking at the same time, there would be some risk.

 

[Redfraggle]

Originally posted by: G Wizard
wow.

I am going to start selling 'THOR-TECTION' devices.

Attach this advanced THOR-TECTION device to your cell phone. You're now free to speak on your cell phone without fear of electrocution from lightning strikes

Only $49.95

I suppose if you were charging your cell phone and talking at the same time, there would be some risk.

Where can I buy this miraculous item??

*face palm*

I'm pretty sure there's no huge risk. I mean, you *are* using an electronic device, but the threat indoors has always been related to conductivity, not simply using an electronic device.

Maybe you could ask mythbusters and prove it to your friends.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Wait, so there are people who think that you shouldn't talk on cell phones during thunderstorms because you can get electrocuted?

The imagination is quite profound! I would request that you ask those people to depart from imagination land, and to instead reside in the real world.

 

[PlasmaBomb]

If you are inside there shouldn't be a risk...

it is different if you are standing outside...

 

[Amused]

Your friend is an idiot.

 

[Skeeedunt]

Almost over zero people a year die from cell phone related lightning strikes, cell phone based hurricane force winds and cell phone induced intra-dimensional time rifts. This isn't a joke guys.

 

[yowolabi]

http://www.snopes.com/horrors/techno/phone.asp

I'm sure they're referring to the threat from land lines, even though it's not much of a threat there either.

 

[Modelworks]

The only way it would happen is if he was in a field making him the highest point relative to ground or if he was on top of a roof where again he was the tallest point. Neither situation requires a cell phone to get struck, it is actually your body that is the problem . There is a reason old farmers say that if you are in the middle of a field and it starts to get stormy and your hair starts to stand up to hit the ground.

 

[Jeff7]

There's no more thread of electrocution by cellphones during a thunderstorm than there would be if you'd shine a flashlight up at the clouds.

The only "risk" would be due to the tiny amount of metal in the cellphone. If you wear metal-frame glasses, they'd pose a greater risk, and still, I use the term "risk" very loosely. There's also a risk that Thor himself will appear before you and bash in your head with his mighty Hammer, simply because he was bored.

So for once, I agree with theflyingpig.