14 May, 2012

Are You In Danger In A Storm With An Umbrella

Bit of a catch 22, but metal tipped golf umbrellas can act as a lightning rod when storms are around. The metal can acts as a conductor, so it can potentially attract a lightning bolt. Probably one of the most famous to do this on a golf course was Lee Trevino in 1975 . He wasn’t holding a rain umbrella at the time, but rather a putter. Saying this, the metal shaft of the putter would be similar to that of an umbrella. He survived the lightning bolt and I hope you don't mind a golf joke but if he had held a one iron in his hand instead, he would probably have been okay, because even God can't hit a one iron!

There have been many documented cases over the years of people getting struck by lightning through their umbrellas, so if you are stuck in a storm and need to use one, try and get one with a plastic frame, or at least plastic tips and a rubber shaft as this will reduce the risk for you.

Saying this, some of those hit were probably going to anyway, even if they weren’t carrying an umbrella, as sometimes it’s more a case of wrong place at the wrong time, so the next time you see a lightning storm it’s probably best just to stay inside and don’t even risk it – umbrellas or not

The Umbrellas Only Team