How to stay safe from lightning during a thunderstorm

“When thunder roars, go indoors.” So reads the safety manual released by the National Centre for Environmental Health in the US. This is because it is believed that, while rare, the chances of being struck by lightning increase when the human ear can hear thunder.

Not being outside for the duration of a thunderstorm is best practice. However, if you do find yourself outdoors, avoid open fields and hilltops, and don't shelter under tall, isolated trees. Lower-lying areas, such as a wadi or ravine, are safer than elevated surfaces.

According to National Geographic, while you should head to a low spot, lying down flat is not recommended, as lightning can move along the ground surface, and this current can be as dangerous as a direct lightning bolt.

Inside a car with a hardtop roof, with the windows wound up, is one of the safest places to be. The enclosed, all-metallic casing ensures that, were lightning to strike, the charge would go around outside the vehicle, suggests car retailer Arnold Clark, thus creating a Faraday effect and protecting those within.

However, it's best to avoid touching any metallic areas of the car, outside and in.

Likewise, avoid being near or coming into contact with fences, poles and other metal objects when outside, and even exercise caution in the home by avoiding electronic equipment.

According to the lightning safety tips, published by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, computers, laptops, gaming systems, washers and hobs – anything connected to an electrical outlet – is potentially risky to use during a thunderstorm.

This is because lightning can travel through electrical systems, metal wires and even through the plumbing if a house or building is equipped with metal rather than plastic pipes.

Cordless or mobile phones are safer to use than corded phones, and swimming and camping should be avoided during a thunder or lightning storm.

What happens when lightning strikes?

Lightning struck Dubai's Burj Khalifa last month. Photo: Rashid Al Falasi

Most lightning strikes are not fatal. They can, however, cause temporary paralysis, unconsciousness and minor to major burns depending on the severity of the strike.

Some people report a temporary loss of hearing and sight.

More serious symptoms include seizures, cardiac arrest, electrical damage to capillaries and sensory loss.

How to help someone struck by lightning

No electric charge remains in a person struck by lightning, so help can be administered immediately, or right after alerting medical authorities.

A person who has been rendered unconscious by a lightning strike may appear not to be breathing or have a pulse, but the New York State Department of Health suggests reviving those who are unconscious first – using CPR – as they are at greater risk than those who can communicate.

Finally, according to the First-Aid Training Co-operative, victims may be confused or nauseous, so communicate with them accordingly and keep them calm until more help arrives.

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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”