Summertime in the mid-west brings warm weather, sunny skies, and numerous opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors. However, it also brings thunderstorms and lightning and your chance of being hit by lightning greatly increases when you remain outside during a thunderstorm.
Each year in the United States, thunderstorms produce 20-25 million lightning flashes that strike the ground, killing an average of 20+ people and injuring hundreds more - often in devastating and permanent ways.
The easiest ways to avoid injury during a thunderstorm are to check the weather before heading out- especially if you're going to an area where shelter will be limited. Also, when a thunderstorm rolls in, find shelter or head indoors as soon as possible and wait until the storm has passed. Lightning can stike from up to 10 miles away, so don't wait until the storm is right over the top of you.
Remember, if the thunder roars, go indoors!