Caught out in the open

Doctor BagThe Shock Doctors 
Progressive Electrical Services Ltd 
 ECRA/ESA #7001377 
 

Writing your Prescription for Electrical Safety            June 2011
In This Issue
Buying New Lights



 

 



 

Zeus
 
 
 

Summertime fun often leads us to the great outdoors. Read this short (and hopefully never needed) lesson on lightning safety.

Terry portrait

 Terry Carman 

 

 News You can Use around Your Home

(and on the road). 

 

   

 

The Mighty Zeus

One of the earliest and most powerful gods of Greek mythology is Zeus. Hidden as a baby by his mother because his father had a taste for eating his children,  Zeus returned to his home on Olympus as an adult, tricked his father into regurgitating his siblings, then overthrew his father with the help of his brothers Hades and Poseidon.  He is known for being the most powerful god and ruler of Olympus, presiding over weather, law, order and morals.  He is most commonly depicted holding a royal scepter in one hand and a lightning bolt in the other. It was supposed that thunderstorms were the outcome of Zeus shaking his aegis or shield.

The ONLY safe place in a storm

 Suppose the whims of Zeus catch you unaware and you find yourself outdoors in a lightning storm. You most certainly have an increased risk of being struck by lightning. The only safe place in a thunderstorm is in a fully enclosed, properly grounded building that has ground protection on both plumbing and wiring. Anywhere else, you are really just trying to lessen your odds of being struck.

Carports, open garages, picnic shelters and sheds are very unsafe.

Your next best bet

The second best option is a safe vehicle; a fully enclosed metal-topped vehicle such as a hard-topped car, bus, truck, etc. Keep your hands off the radio and do not leave the vehicle during a thunderstorm. 

Unsafe vehicles include convertibles, golf carts and riding mowers.  

The lightning crouch

Advice of lying flat on the ground is decades out of date. If lightning strikes nearby to you, the energy will travel along the ground. The more of you that is touching the ground, the greater is your electric shock damage. If you cannot get to safety, the up-to-date recommended stance is to crouch low with arms wrapped around your knees and tuck your head.

 

 If you outsmart Zeus by using the Lightning Crouch you get double rewards; it may save your life and you'll have the glutes of Zeus as it is great exercise for your legs and butt!

 

Lightning Crouch

Do YOU  have a question for the Doctor? 
   StethoscopeIf you have a question about the health of your electrical system or just wondering about a little "plastic surgery", ask the doctor: Just click below and send your question to terry@theshockdoctors.ca

Deck of Cards  

Greetings!   

Draw from the deck

 

If you have an electrical project in mind, don't procrastinate. July is the right time. For our e-newsletter readers only, during July, draw a card from the deck and receive the value of your card as your percent savings! 2-10 = 2-10% (any draw below 5 gets ONE CHANCE to draw again.)

Jack=11%,      Queen=12%,      King=HST,     Ace = 15%

ECRA./ESA
ECRA of the ESA #7001377
Yours for lightning-free summer adventure,
  
Cheri
  
PS. I tried the lightning crouch and am opting to stay close to large urban centers this summer.
Cheri Professional