As I listen to the thunder in the distance, I notice that each clap seems to be getting closer. More rain, I think; and the neighbors have a lot of hay down. It has been "washed" a couple of times already. As I see the lightning brighten the sky with occasional flashes, farm and rural dangers come to my mind.

I remember my father telling about sitting on his back porch one day many years ago watching a thunder and lightning storm. He watched the storm intensify with heavier rain, stronger wind, and more frequent and closer lightning. Suddenly, a clap of thunder rang out at the same time as the lightning flashed. Understanding that light travels many times faster than sound, their simultaneous occurrence meant the lightning must have struck very close by. A few minutes later as the storm died down, he could see some sort of a commotion in his neighbor's cow pasture.

My father went over to find out what was going on. It seems that the neighbor's cows had gathered under a large, solitary tree in a swampy area of the pasture for some protection from the storm. The lightning had struck the tree and its electrical charge killed nine of the cows under it! More recently, I have heard similar accounts from farmers in this area.

Of even greater concern are the reports we get occasionally at NYCAMH where a farmer has been out in a field—or even on a pond or lake—when a lightening storm comes up unexpectedly. What are the best things you should do to remain as safe as possible?

There are a number of common sense things that should be done. Prevention is, of course, always the best course of action if it is available. Keep track of the sky and the weather forecast and report to avoid being caught out in a dangerous storm. Sometimes you don't have that option, though, then what?

Make yourself as unattractive to the lightning as possible, and stay away from things that might attract it. Most anything, especially when it is wet or stands out or alone above the ground, can attract a lightning strike. Resist the urge to find shelter under a tree; stay away from them. Even a small or temporary building with no lightning protection would not be a good place to seek shelter.

The National Lightning Safety Institute (NLSI) offers these recommendations. If you see lightning or hear thunder, you are already at risk. If the time delay between seeing the lightning and hearing the thunder is less than 30 seconds, you should be in or quickly on your way to a safer location. A large percentage of lightning injuries occur in the beginning as the storm approaches and just after the storm seems to pass. This indicates that many people are unaware of or ignore this warning.

No place is completely safe from a lightning threat. Safer places to be in a thunder and lightning storm include a large permanent building (especially if it is equipped with lightning rod protection as farm buildings should be) and a fully enclosed vehicle with all windows closed. While inside, avoid contact with electrically conductive items such as water pipes, wiring, and metal window frames.

If you are out in a field and cannot get to a vehicle or building, you should move to a low area, such as a hollow or even a dry ditch. Stay away from trees, wire fences and metal gates. Water is a good electrical conductor so stay away from streams, ponds, pools, etc.

The NLSI recommends "If hopelessly isolated from shelter during close-in lightning, adopt a low crouching position with feet together and hands on ears." Again, the goal is to be as unattractive to lightning as possible and as unsusceptible to the electrical charge as possible should it strike nearby. Recognizing that prevention is much preferred to treatment, their slogan is "If you see it (lightning), flee it; if you hear it (thunder), clear it." Don't be shocked, just heed their warning.