Playing a cell phone when it's raining can be struck by lightning
A shocking news in Karawang, West Java some time ago, the news about a man who was struck by lightning while using his cellphone when the weather was cloudy or rainy. The man named Jordan was struck by lightning while using his handsfree with his cell phone in his trouser pocket.
As a result of the lightning strike, Jordan’s left thigh, which had the cellphone in his pocket, was scorched by lightning, not only Jordan, not only Jordan who felt the impact of the lightning strike, people around Jordan also felt what made them faint. This incident certainly raises many questions among the public about the safety of using cell phones when the weather is raining.
However, according to the Journal of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Institute, it is safe to use a cellphone during rainy weather, because there is no conductor between lightning and you. However, NOOA advises against using wired telephones when it is raining, because the wires in the telephone can conduct electricity, causing lightning to connect.
A similar incident also happened before which was written in the British Medical Journal in 2006. The incident was experienced by a 15-year-old woman, with the same story concept, namely using a cellphone when it was raining in the open. But fortunately this woman only had a heart attack and was quickly rescued, as opposed to Jordan who died on the spot when he was struck by lightning.
Due to this incident, there has been controversy regarding the use of mobile phones in the rain. However, being more careful in using it will make us safer in using it as well as not using a landline phone when it’s raining, and it’s better to postpone using any type of cellphone when it’s raining if it’s not urgently needed or in an emergency situation.