[STUDY] How Can You Survive Lightning Strikes? Simply Getting Your Skin Wet Could Be the Answer, Experts Claim

How can you survive a lightning strike? A new study revealed a very unusual way of survival method.

It's a known fact that water is a good conductor of electricity. This is why it is dangerous to touch or dip in water where a broken electrical line is submerged.

[STUDY] How Can You Survive Lightning Strikes? Simply Getting Your Skin Wet Could Be the Answer, Experts Claim — (Photo : RAKESH BAKSHI/AFP via Getty Images)
*A pedestrian walks with an umbrella as lightning strikes during an evening thunderstorm in Jammu on May 14, 2015.*

Since water is a good conductor of electricity, some people will think that getting struck by lightning while they are soaking wet could endanger their lives.

But, a new study claims that getting your body drenched in water could actually be a lifesaver if lightning strikes. Here's what researchers explained.

How Can You Survive Lightning Strikes? Wet Skin Could Be the Answer

According to The Guardian, a new study revealed that a human head could experience less damage from a lightning strike if it's wet. This was revealed after researchers subjected 3D human head models to the equivalent of a direct lightning strike.

"If you are outdoors and there is no shelter, wet skin is better than dry skin because the water film is like a 'protective coating,'" explained Rene Machts from Ilmenau University of Technology (Germany), the study's first author.

"Finding a 'protected' location and making yourself as small as possible is safer," he added.

In the new study, experts stated that wet skin is better than dry one because the size of the current that passes over the drenched human body might be reduced in case of a lightning strike.

This could also be the case in animals since scientists claim that animals with wet skin have a higher chance of survival compared to those that have dry skin during a lightning strike exposure.

However, it is still not suggested to test this with your friends since researchers involved in the new study are still conducting tests to prove their theory.

Proven Lightning Strike Survival Tips

Instead of doing what the new study suggests, it is still safer to rely on proven survival lightning strike tips. These include the ones offered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

DON'T Touch Electronic Devices: Gadgets and equipment connected to an electrical outlet should not be touched during a lightning strike.
DON'T Use Corded Phones: If you have corded phones at your house, it would be best to avoid using them during a thunderstorm.
DON'T Go Near Windows, Concrete, Doors, and Porches: Never lie on concrete floors or go near walls, porches, windows, and doors since lightning can easily travel through any metal.
NEVER Soak Your Body With Water: Experts urge people not to wash dishes, take a bath, or do any other activity that can soak their body during a thunderstorm.