National Lightning Safety Awareness Week – 5 New Stats on Lightning Deaths in the U.S. – Lightning Strike (video)

Howdy hey good neighbors.

Every Summer I look forward to storms.  There are some that hate them with a passion, but those are normally "Type A" people who hate not being in control.  Too me, that's the excitement of it.  I'm always outside with a camera trying to capture a shot of lightning.  Last year it finally worked for me as you can see in the picture, but I always forget how deadly Lightning can be.  It's National Lightning Safety Awareness Week.  The National Weather Service released some new statistics about the people who've died from lightning in the past 7 years.

- 70% of lightning deaths happen in June, July, and August.

- 64% died doing a leisure activity.  Fishing was the most common, but camping was also included, as well as boating, soccer, and golf.

- 82% were male.

- Kids are most likely to die from lightning when they're doing chores.  So kids, it's O.K. to stop working when a storm comes through, unless you want to lay a guilt trip on your parents, then by all means keep raking.

- And since 2006, the number of deaths is 238, that includes 7 people so far this year.

The thing I remember best about lightning.  If you can see it, it can see you.  You can always check out the NOAA National Weather Service sit for more information and tips about this "pretty" killer.

Here is a video of some photographers in Australia that got a close look at lightning.  Notice the storm doesn't look that severe.