International Lightning Safety Day Date in the current year: June 28, 2025

Every year, approximately 240,000 people are struck by lightning. About 10% of those people die, and approximately three-quarters of those who survive end up with long-term health issues such as hearing loss due to perforated eardrums, cataracts, and neurological problems like fatigue, mood swings, and memory impairment.

Many countries have implemented lightning safety measures to mitigate damage and protect people from strikes, such as lightning rods and charge transfer systems. However, studies from Asia, Africa, and South America have shown that the dangers of lightning are not sufficiently recognized here, resulting in unacceptably high levels of lightning-related injuries and deaths. This is why it is important to educate the public about personal lightning safety measures and promote the implementation of lightning protection systems.

The best way to protect yourself from lightning is to immediately seek shelter indoors or in a fully enclosed metal vehicle with the windows up after hearing thunder. When indoors, avoid contact with devices plugged into an electrical outlet, water, and plumbing (so no washing dishes or showering during a thunderstorm). Stay away from outside doors and windows, and wait at least half an hour after the last clap of thunder before going outside.

If you are caught outside in a thunderstorm with no shelter, try to avoid isolated high objects (trees, poles, etc.), open fields, large bodies of water, and high places. Go to the lowest possible ground, and minimize your contact with the ground. Instead of lying flat, which is dangerous, drop to your knees and bend forward or crouch down with your feet together.

International Lightning Safety Day was established at the International Symposium on Strategic Interventions to Mitigate the Hazard of Lightning that was held in Lusaka, Zambia, from August 11 to 13, 2015. Delegates from 17 countries, including Benin, Cameroon, Egypt, India, Iraq, Malawi, Malaysia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Uganda, the United States, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, supported the resolution to declare this awareness day.

International Lightning Safety Day is held on a date chosen to honor the victims of a lightning strike incident in Uganda. On June 28, 2011, at least 18 students and a teacher were killed and several dozen more were injured by lightning at Runyanya Primary School in Kiryandongo District. This incident is considered one of the deadliest lightning strikes ever recorded. The victims had taken shelter in a classroom during a thunderstorm, but the school did not have a lightning rod or other protective infrastructure.

The main goal of International Lightning Safety Day is to promote lightning safety and protection around the world, especially in regions at high risk for lightning injuries due to high lightning flash density.