Column: Something About Nothing

Beware! Your underwire bra can cause you to get hit by lightening! Recently a man being interviewed on the Dr. Phil show answered this question: Do men get hit by lightening more than women? The man being interviewed didn’t know the answer but offered up this statement. “I had a woman friend that got hit by lightning because of her underwire bra.”

I did a double take. I rewound my DVR. I certainly couldn’t have heard that right. The topic of the show was Dan Abrams’ book “Man Down.” Abrams asserts that there is proof beyond a reasonable doubt that women are better than men at most everything. We women love Dan’s book. I happened to zone in on the lightning question.

After all, summer is right around the corner and I don’t want all of the women out there who wear underwire bras to be unaware of the danger of their underwire bra. Could it be true? Is it a myth?

It does seem to be true that men get hit with lightning more than women. It seems to go to the fact that men are a little more macho when those beams of electricity are flashing in the sky. I can attest to that fact as I have worried and watched the male members of my family on a golf course trying to get in that last hole before the rain or making sure the last shingle is nailed tight on the roof before the lightning strikes.

I am a wimp when it comes to lightning and storms. I see the first flash and I am inside. But now I hear that possibly wearing an underwire bra is going to put me and all women at risk. I decided to Google this fact.

Apparently in London in 1999 two women were killed instantly when 100,000 volts struck their underwire bra. Unconfirmed sources say these women were under a tree and the lightening discharge was channeled into the bra. The jury is out whether you are in danger from lightning if you wear an underwire bra.

We must accept the fact that the thunderstorm seasons have arrived. Everyone should have a healthy respect for lightning. According to the National Weather Service’s lightning safety page, lightning is a major cause of storm-related deaths above hurricanes and tornadoes. In 2008 this site reported that there are 58 lightning fatalities per year but they feel that is under-reported and the number is closer to 70 deaths per year. That does not take into account the injuries. It is reported that only 10 percent of people hit by lightning die the rest are left with 90 percent disability.

To be safe from lightning, it is wise to take some precautions. Take shelter in a safe building that is fully enclosed. Do not take shelter in carports, covered patios, picnic shelters, tents or tin sheds. Take shelter in a safe vehicle such as an enclosed car, truck or van. Do not take shelter in a golf cart, motorcycle, bikes or boats. Lightning can strike during a clear sky when the storm is many miles away.

You might think you are safe inside but there are a few rules to follow. Stay off of a corded phone. Do not use any equipment directly connected to electricity. Stay away from windows and doors. Don’t take a shower or bath or the shower scene that you remember from the movie Psycho will be mild in comparison to the shock you could receive in your shower during a lightning storm.

I have heard that if you are caught outside during a storm you should lay flat, but according to NWS that is a myth; lying flat increases your chances of being hit by a ground current.

If you want to know more about lightning visit this website: http://www.lighteningsafety.noaa.gov. It has some very interesting facts. However, I found no fact on this website that warns you against wearing underwire bras during a thunderstorm.

I had to turn to a Wikipedia how to find this statement: “Metal does not actually attract lightning, as is commonly believed. Instead, it conducts the electricity in the event of a strike. To be safe, remove any metallic objects from your body. This includes belt buckles, bra clasps and underwires, earrings, watches, and small change in your pockets.”

I guess that sums it up. The next time you see someone in a rainstorm whipping off their belt, tossing their bra and throwing money at you, run for cover, things are going to get hot one way or another.

Wells resident Julie Seedorf’s column appears every Monday. Send email to her at thecolumn@bevcomm.net. Her blog is www.thankfuljoy.com. Listen to KBEW AM radio 1:30 p.m. Sundays for “Something About Nothing.”