Avoiding shocks on polling day

THIS weekend, millions of Malaysians, including young first-timers, will be casting their votes for a new government.

In their excitement, they should not forget their personal safety since some parts of the country will experience thunderstorms during the voting period on Saturday. Most voters will be walking at least a few dozen or hundred metres in the open to their voting centres, and some may have to queue up outside the buildings while waiting for their turn.

Hence it is essential that these voters ensure their safety if a thunderstorm breaks out – political party members in their tents outside must also help.

I have tailored the following lightning safety rules for the safety of fellow voters this Saturday.

> Seek shelter as soon as you see dark thunderclouds gather on the horizon or over a hill. Lightning can strike up to 15km away from the thunderclouds – and that can happen even before the rain starts.

> Run (don’t walk!) towards shelter if you hear thunder or see a lightning bolt. At this point, you are already in danger of being struck by lightning.

> I reiterate: Do not wait for rain to fall before you act. Sometimes, lightning occurs before the rain begins. And never use an umbrella in a lightning storm.

> Do not take shelter under a tree or in a tent, small sheds, gazebos or roadside food stalls. For small shelters, ensure they have a proper lightning protection system installed before you go into them.

> Do take shelter inside a sturdy or large building (e.g. the voting centre, a shop or a house), inside a metal roofed vehicle (e.g. a bus, van or car) or under a large structure (e.g. a bridge).

> Do not loiter outside the corners of large buildings to avoid being struck by falling debris if lightning strikes the structure. Lightning loves to strike the corners of building roofs.

> If there is no proper shelter nearby and it rains, get your clothes wet because wet clothing helps to reduce serious injuries in a lightning-struck person. Let the current flow over you instead of inside you.

> Inside a shelter, do not touch any metallic objects, electric equipment or electricity cables.

> Do not use a land-line telephone unless it is really urgent. Use a mobile phone instead if available.

> Stay inside your shelter for 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder is heard. Just as it can do before the rain begins, lightning can strike up to 15km away from thunderclouds even after the rain has stopped.

Stay safe and vote wisely.

ZA HARTONO Kuala Lumpur

The letter writer is a lightning protection researcher and consultant.