# When Lightning Strikes Pools

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-lightning-strikes-pools/254595>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 11, 2004, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-lightning-strikes-pools/254595 "2004-07-11T19:11:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jimmmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@jimmmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimmmy)\
**Post date:** [July 11, 2004, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-lightning-strikes-pools/254595/1 "2004-07-11T19:11:07Z")

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Does anyone have a cite that anyone has ever died when Lightning Struck a swimming pool? It is common sense that it is dangerous, buit I couldn’t find a cite – has anyone ever died in a pool from a strike?

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**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\
**Post date:** [July 11, 2004, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-lightning-strikes-pools/254595/2 "2004-07-11T20:24:40Z")

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Here’s one cite: [http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=344964](http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=344964)

> [@](#):
>
> There are a few cases in and around swimming pools every year in  
> the U.S. During the summer of 2000, two boys were killed at an outdoor  
> pool in Florida.

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**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\
**Post date:** [July 11, 2004, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-lightning-strikes-pools/254595/3 "2004-07-11T22:59:18Z")

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I’ve heard that swimming pools are grounded, but apparently this is not the case, or if it is, it doesn’t protect the swimmer (?)

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**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\
**Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-lightning-strikes-pools/254595/4 "2004-07-12T01:15:46Z")

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Being grounded isn’t going to protect you. Lightning occurs when a charge builds up between the clouds and the ground. When enough charge builds up that it can overcome the air in between, it discharges THROUGH the ground. If you are essentially part of the ground, then it discharges through you.

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**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\
**Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-lightning-strikes-pools/254595/5 "2004-07-12T04:36:05Z")

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> [@barbitu8](#):
>
> I’ve heard that swimming pools are grounded, but apparently this is not the case, or if it is, it doesn’t protect the swimmer (?)

Article 680 of the National Electrical Code is quite extensive regarding the grounding and bonding of all electrical devices (receptacles), lighting fixtures inside and outside of the pool, and any other metallic objects such as ladders, slides, diving platforms, and the like. In addition, reinforcing steel within a concrete pool and surrounding cementitious slab areas containing reinforcing steel are also electrically bonded and grounded.

These provisions are not designed to protect persons from injury or death from lightning strike, but to protect persons from injury or death in the event of equipment malfunction in or around the pool area.