What not to do during a thunderstorm? The zipper on the jacket diverges: the main problems with the fastener. How to escape from ball lightning

Probably, everyone at least once got into a situation when the zipper on a jacket or boot broke at the wrong time, and it is not known how to fix it if it diverges. Of course, you can give the thing for repair and pick it up in a couple of days, but this is not at all relevant if these are the only boots, and you have to leave after 10 minutes.

How to fix a zipper lock?

If we are dealing with a dispersed lock, then most likely the reason for its divergence is in an unbent dog. It can deteriorate if the lock is fastened too tightly, is constantly in a taut state, or the thing has been used for more than one year. First, the castle will need to be leveled, that is, put the slider at the very beginning, and only after proceeding with its resuscitation.

In order to remedy the situation, we need pliers. With their help, you need to press the dog on both sides, while applying a little effort. If the slider is squeezed too hard, it will stop moving altogether, and in the worst case, it will burst.

But if the slider still does not align the teeth in a certain place, then the reason may be in them. Having carefully looked at the place where the lightning begins to diverge, you can find that the nylon teeth have straightened out, and the metal ones can stand crooked. You can try to fix this situation.

You can try to carefully hem the plastic cloves with a thick fishing line and such a zipper will still last for some time. And if the lock is metal, then it is even easier to deal with its breakdown - just take the tweezers-clip and put the “tooth” in place with a simple twist. It diverges, lightning can also be due to the tight running of the slider. To make it easier and smoother, the lock in the closed state is rubbed on both sides with a paraffin candle and unfastened and fastened with a zipper several times. Excess paraffin is brushed off.

The zipper is unfastened - how to fix it?

It is not always possible to "agree" with lightning. She is especially problematic on and constantly strives to unbutton. In this case, you can resort to a little trick. To do this, you need a small ring, which is slightly larger than the diameter of a button on jeans - this can be found on a keychain.

The ring is inserted into the loop of the slider and when the zipper is fastened to the very top, they are thrown over the button. Thus, this design remains invisible to the eyes of others and protects you from trouble in the form of an unbuttoned fly.

The simplest and fast way solving the problem if the zipper on the jacket diverges:

Lay out the product with the “snake” on a flat surface, straighten the sides of the fastener.
Place one of its ends inside the slider and press with pliers.
Now evaluate the result: try stretching the slider up and down.
If the zipper is fastened, you can put on a thing and forget about a little trouble.
If the lock diverges, place the slider in the pliers so that its outer and inner halves are inside the tool.
Pull the pliers and slider a few more centimeters. The clasp will snap into place immediately.

Typical types of breakdowns

Before you figure out how to fix a zipper, you need to assess what specifically needs to be repaired. The problem that has arisen can be caused by wear or loss of the slider, damage to the teeth, lower or upper fasteners. The nature of the breakdown will help to figure out what's the matter - as a rule, all of them in one way or another come down to the following problems:

the lock sticks or does not fasten;
the zipper diverges during the fastening process or later, already in the buttoned state;
the slider is difficult to move, gets stuck or, conversely, dangles;
the lower fixing clove has fallen off.

Let's look at each possible breakdown separately.

How to unzip a zipper if it has come apart, what to do so that the lock does not diverge: tips

It is one of the types of fasteners, which is designed to quickly connect parts of clothing. Modern designers are developing new versions of zippers with improved latches to prevent possible breakages. However, a model that would never break, unfortunately, has not yet been created. And over time, most of the "snakes" begin to diverge.

In order to understand the causes of the trouble that happened, you need to understand how such a clasp is arranged and what is the principle of its operation. "Snake" consists of two textile tapes with links (cloves) attached to them. These links are staggered and can be:

plastic
metal
kapron (flexible, on a thin fabric basis with spiral brackets)

The teeth are connected to each other using a lock, which has different names:

slider
"dog"
slider
carriage

The principle of operation of such a fastener is as follows:

the slider slides along the tape, connecting the links together, like puzzles
each link is fixed by two links on the opposite side

Possible reasons why the teeth on the zipper do not connect:

the slider is unclenched and does not fit snugly to the braid
the shape of one of the elements is broken
runner has broken
the teeth on the clasp are broken or deformed
thread or fabric stuck in the clasp
dirt has accumulated between the links (often this problem happens with shoes)

Sometimes on a zipper that has come apart, the slider gets stuck at the top or in the middle. What can be done in such a case?

The technology depends on the type of zipper.

Detachable (used on sweaters, jackets or other outerwear):

insert the lower ends of the fastener into the square retainer
take the dog by its base, not by its decorative keychain
pressing the slider to the links, smoothly and slowly, lead it down
Hold the clasp with your other hand
reaching the latch, carefully hook it with the slider
unzip

One-piece (sewn into jeans, skirts, trousers, bags, wallets):

release the tabs on the top of the clasp
smoothly slide the slider to the edge of the braid
try not to get the fabric between the teeth and the dog
remove the carriage from the zipper

Now check if the clasp can be repaired. For this:

manually connect the lower ends of the fastener
with the other hand, grasp the base of the slider
holding the lower end, slowly move the "dog" up the zipper
if during this action the links of the lightning did not connect, it must be replaced

In the event that adhesion between the links of the fastener does occur, there are chances to repair the zipper yourself. It happens that lightning diverges from above. Especially often this problem occurs with jeans or skirts.

V emergency cases this way can help:

thread a rubber band or wire ring into the dog
fasten the "snake"
put an elastic band (ring) on a button
thread the button through the buttonhole

In order for the zipper to serve you for a long time and not break, use it correctly:

do not pull the “dog” with all your strength and do not pull it back when fastening / unfastening
before fastening the zipper, straighten the sides of the product so that there are no stretched areas
in cases where the lock is too tight, lubricate it suitable remedy or rub the teeth with a graphite pencil
avoid putting too much pressure on the clasp (buy clothes that aren't too tight, don't carry too many things in your bag)
periodically clean the clasp from dirt with a brush
always zip up before washing and turn garment inside out
fold things in such a way that the zipper does not bend
when ironing clothes, avoid touching the fastener with a hot iron

If the zipper on the jacket constantly diverges or does not fasten at all, carefully inspect the dog - most likely, it is precisely in it. In some cases, it can be repaired, but most often you still have to change this element. However, this can be done at home, and buying spare parts will cost a penny.

It is very easy to choose a slider that fits the size - usually the number and size are indicated on the back side, by which you can choose an identical one. And even if there are no corresponding marks, you can simply evaluate the two elements visually - there are not so many varieties of dogs, so it will not be difficult to choose the right one “by eye” with due care.

After everything you need is prepared, you can proceed to the repair:

Remove the upper stops from the zipper to easily remove the old dog and install a new one. If there are none, and the ends of the zipper are sewn into the fabric of the jacket, you will have to remove a few upper teeth. In some modern models locks, a special diagonal scar is provided on the limiter, which allows you to remove the slider by setting it at a certain angle. If your jacket has just such a zipper, feel free to proceed to step 2.
Remove the dog from the zipper and examine it carefully - perhaps it can still be repaired. Assess the size of the gaps, back and inner surface- everything should be perfectly smooth, not stagger or bend. If you see that the gaps are not even, and the back surface is bent, try to bring the element into the proper shape with pliers. Even if you fail, it's okay, because there is a new one in stock.

Install a repaired or new zipper slider. At the same time, make sure that it is right side jackets, that is, where a square limiter is installed below. The easiest way to do this is at a slight angle, gradually leveling the dog - so it will smoothly fall into place and not damage the upper teeth.
After that, check the functionality of the zipper by opening and closing the jacket several times. Do not forget that it is impossible to fasten it all the way, because the upper limiters have not yet been installed.
After making sure that the zipper on the jacket works properly, put the top rivets in place. If you had to remove a few teeth during the repair process, lower the position of the limiters by half a centimeter or centimeter to compensate for their absence.

Having mastered these simple methods, you can even repair a hopelessly damaged zipper on a jacket without resorting to the services of an atelier.

You can resort to it if an attempt to repair with pliers was unsuccessful. In this case, you will need scissors. Suppose the clasp is broken, and the slider is on one of the halves. In this case, proceed in this order:

Pick up the second half of the castle.
Find the lowest slider position you can.
Using scissors, make a horizontal cut between the teeth.
Put the slider over the incision and pull through.

This method can be used if the clasp is made of metal. So, if the lightning has broken, take a narrow screwdriver and stick it into the bosom of the slider.

The meaning of this manipulation is to slightly expand the device. After the hole has widened a little, insert the free half of the fastener into it, then fasten the slider with pliers. The lock should work almost like new.

This is one of the most common and easily repairable damage. Most often, the base of the castle fails in children's things, since children have not yet learned how to take care of clothes.

Apply any colorless glue to the damaged area of \u200b\u200bthe base and leave to dry completely. If necessary, repeat the manipulation again.

The runner broke, what should I do?

If the dog moves “with a creak” or is completely stuck in one place, you don’t need to try to move it with a little more effort - otherwise you can pull out a few teeth and completely damage the zipper, after which it will be unrealistic to restore its performance. Try safer and more gentle methods!

If the slider does not want to move in the right direction, gently apply a drop detergent on its basis. Lather will provide better glide, and the dog can be moved without special efforts. To do this, use the following algorithm:

Take a small saucer or a regular jar lid - the main thing is that the presence of sides allows you to prepare a small amount of solution.
Drop a couple of drops of any thick detergent (such as dishwashing gel or shampoo) and the same amount of water.
Stir the solution well to get a homogeneous, slightly foamy consistency.
Dip a cotton swab into the foam solution and gently work the zipper teeth on both sides of the place where the slider is stuck.
After that, try to pull the dog a little and generously lubricate it with soapy water.
When the zipper is fully processed, try to gently move the slider from its place. If it gets stuck, simply return it back and start moving again - and so on until the entire path has been completed. At the end, you need to repeat the fastening-unfastening several times in order to properly develop a greased lock.

To fix a stuck zipper with sunflower oil, several conditions must be met:

jacket fabric must be water and dirt repellent, otherwise greasy spots may not wash off;
the installed zipper should have a dark, or even better, black fabric base (for the same reasons).

The process itself is not much different from lubricating the lightning and slider with soapy water. True, after you develop a lock, you will have to rewash the jacket, otherwise the remaining oil particles will “collect” dust and dirt, and after a while the zipper will stop working normally again.

In lock repair shops, you can always find a special gray substance with light metal glitter - graphite grease. Alternative option is the same kind of powder obtained by grinding graphite. Both of these substances are ideal remedy for lubricating jammed zippers, which you can buy at any hardware store.

Simply dab some onto a cotton pad and gently work each clove and then the slider. After complete processing, it will be enough to pull the dog back and forth several times for the lock to work. True, the graphite lubricant will also subsequently have to be washed off the jacket, but this is not so difficult to do - usually a simple soak in soapy water and then rinse the outerwear is enough.

If there was no special lubricant or powder at hand, it's okay - you can replace it with an ordinary simple pencil with a soft or hard-soft lead (these data are usually indicated on the side). Go over the zipper teeth several times with a pencil, not making much effort so as not to accidentally move them, and then carefully “paint” the place where the slider is stuck - usually this is enough for it to move freely.

If the previous ways to fix a zipper on a jacket were ineffective, then the situation is a little more serious. Most likely, dirt has accumulated between the teeth of the lock, which prevents their snug fit, so the slider cannot fully perform its functions. Therefore, to begin with, you will have to carefully wash the jacket in hot water so that dried dirt particles can be easily washed off.

After the jacket has dried, repeat the lubrication using any of the methods suggested above.

A repaired zipper on jeans, a bag, a jacket will serve you for some more time. It all depends on how you treat her.

The runner broke, what should I do?

Any lightning at the bottom has a special rivet on which the slider rests. If it accidentally comes off, the lock simply will not fasten, and if it does, the bottom of the zipper will diverge with any movement. The only way to repair the clasp of the jacket in this case is to install a new limiter that matches the lost one in shape and size.

To begin with, you will have to remove a loose rivet (if it has not completely fallen off) with scissors or pliers. Try not to damage the fabric to make it easier to install a new part. If it was not possible to carefully remove the spare part, it is necessary to cut off the protruding threads as much as possible or burn them with a match.

By removing the latch, you will have access to the lower teeth of the zipper. If you've used a faulty zipper for a while, chances are the bottom prongs will be loose or damaged. If so, they will have to be removed. The fewer teeth you remove, the better, but leaving loose elements is also not too good - otherwise the zipper will soon break again.

A new limiter will take their place - just set it a couple of millimeters higher. You can buy it in the accessories department - the sales assistant will help you choose the right rivet for you. Installing it is quite easy with the help of pliers, the main thing is not to pinch the part and not leave it too weak.

After the repair, be sure to check the operability of the lightning - you may have to adjust the clamping force of the installed limiter.

Can the slider be rearranged?

In principle, it is possible, but this applies to things where it is not fundamentally important which way the lock opens (handbags, cosmetic bags, etc.). Repair of the “snake” in this case is extremely simple. Move the slider to the opposite side, and sew the free ends together to prevent the slider from slipping.

If the “dog” is completely broken, do not waste time fixing it and get a new one in the sewing store. If you are unable to find the exact product, do the following:

Unfold the restrictor.
Insert slider.
Rub the teeth of the lock with paraffin or a stearin candle.

Everything! You can use the lock.

The zipper doesn't fasten well

This is not such a rare occurrence. The “dog” hardly slips through the lock, and additional difficulties arise with fastening and unfastening. How to fix the lock on the jacket in this case?

There are several ways to debug a zipper:

Lubricate the lock with lard along the entire length. This repair method is suitable for leather products. If the thing is made of textiles, greasy stains may appear on it.
Candle wax. The waxed clasp starts working normally.
Soft pencil lead. The use of graphite to lubricate the snake, as practice shows, is the most effective.

Care rules

These simple rules will help keep the zipper on long time, and questions on how to repair a zipper on a jacket will not arise:

If grains of sand get between the teeth, do not be too lazy to clean the lock with an old toothbrush.
If the zipper is plastic, be careful when ironing that the iron does not get on it. In this case, the hot iron can deform the teeth.
To keep the fastener longer, follow the rules for washing clothes. Wash the product inside out, with the zipper closed.

Why does the zipper on the jacket diverge?

The zipper on the jacket diverges: the main problems with the fastener

A zipper has several common types of damage:

The lock diverges - the reason is that the slider is too loose, it does not bring the teeth together;

The slider moves too tight - on the contrary, the slider planes are very compressed, friction prevents it from sliding;

· the pawl flew off the clasp - the fasteners were weakened so that the working part of the mechanism slipped past the limiters;

The lock unfastens spontaneously: again, the slider is weakened, strong pressure on the joints also plays a role.

It’s easy to figure out how to fix a zipper on a jacket or jeans: if unfastening is difficult, you need to lubricate the teeth, for other problems, tighten the slider or replace it. However, the replacement solves the issue with poor unfastening.

You can squeeze the planes of the dog with pliers, but you need to do this carefully, since too much compression will lead to a problem of the second kind - with unfastening. In addition, the relatively fragile metal of cheap accessories can simply break. To lubricate the teeth, it is most convenient to use a soft graphite pencil. It is enough to run them over the teeth several times from the outside and inside ribbons and fasten and unzip.

With spontaneous unfastening - this usually happens with tight jeans - let's say a variant with a stopper. It is enough to pass a ring through (from a keychain made of ordinary wire or unbent paper clip) into the hole on the tongue and put it on when buttoning the button of the jeans together with the loop.

If the fix fails

A fastening mechanism that has flown off a zipper is easiest to replace in a workshop, where they can easily select the right size and professionally fix it. However, if you wish, you can do it yourself. The easiest option is to remove the stops at the top of the fastener and, carefully bringing the ends together on a flat surface, put the slider on them. At the same time, it will need to be slightly tightened after putting on and restore the limiters. The easiest way is to sew tightly with a thick thread upper part lightning. If the clasp is sewn into the product, this option is not suitable.

Lightning (zipper, snake) is a popular type of fastener that quickly connects the details of clothing. Compact and convenient locks can be found on dresses, trousers, jackets, bags, shoes, etc.

However, like any mechanism, clasps break from time to time. Then people are looking for methods on how to fix the lightning if it diverges. In this case, you can give the thing for repair or fix the broken snake with your own hands.

We clamp the slider

Sometimes it happens that the zipper on the bag diverges due to the fact that the slider does not fasten its edges. If it is loose, then clamp it, but you can repeat this procedure no more than 2 times, otherwise the “dog” will break. Then you have to put a new slider.

You can pinch the slider in two ways:

With a hammer. Spread the edges of the thing and lay it on a flat surface with the "dog" down. Fasten the lock halfway (it’s not scary if it parted at the same time), press it with pliers and, without much effort, hit it a couple of times with a hammer. Then try again to fasten the lock. If it does not work, then repeat the manipulation.
With pliers. If the lightning diverges, then try to clamp the "dog" with pliers. In order not to break the slider, gently (without strong pressure) clamp it on each side. Do not try to squeeze the slider with your fingers, the metal will only bend under the influence of the tool.

In this way, you can repair plastic, metal and hidden fasteners.

If you are not the first time you clamp the slider, because of which the lightning has dispersed, then most likely it will break. That is why you need to prepare a new "dog" in advance.

Zipper repair if there are not enough teeth

Many people are trying to find the answer to the question of what to do if there are no teeth on the zipper. If the zipper on the jeans is faulty due to the fact that it lacks teeth, then do not rush to throw the thing away, you can fix the problem yourself.

If the metal zipper on the boot is broken, then your goal is to find the teeth that are the right size. You can find the missing elements on another clasp. If you can’t put them on yourself, then take the thing to the workshop.

Repairing a zipper, if it diverges, is much easier from nylon or plastic. To do this, take a thick fishing line, cut a piece and fix it so that its ends do not interfere with the movement of the "dog".

If the teeth on the iron fastener fail (raise or move to the side), then the snake will be difficult to fasten and eventually disperse. To fix this breakage, gently tap the buckle where the prongs are deformed with a hammer to put them back in place. If all else fails, go to the master.

Difficulties with zippering

It happens that the “dog” on trousers or a dress moves with difficulty along the castle, then fastening and unfastening the zipper becomes harder than usual. You can repair the snake in the following ways:

Craftsmen offer to lubricate the zipper with lard. If lightning diverges, then take a piece of fat and grease the teeth with a thin layer of fat along its entire length. This method is suitable for things made of dense materials (for example, leather). On thin canvases after using fat, spots of fat will spread.
Candle wax will help ease unfastening. Lubricate the clasp with a candle to make the slider move easier.
The best option is a pencil stem. To fix a zipper, run the lead over the zipper 2-3 times, just choose a soft pencil.

After using each method, test the zipper by zipping and unzipping it.

Rules for the care of lightning

As you know, preventing a breakdown is easier than fixing it. For this reason, it is important to ensure proper care clasp. To extend the life of the lock, follow these rules:

Protect the zipper from sand that gets trapped between the teeth, disrupting the slider, causing the lock to open. This problem is relevant for shoes, which are recommended to be cleaned after each wear and treated with cream. To remove sand grains from the castle, brush it with a toothbrush.
If the fastener on things is nylon or plastic, then follow the safety rules during ironing. To do this, make sure that the soleplate of the iron does not get caught in the zipper, as this increases the likelihood of damage to the teeth.
To prevent discrepancies, it is necessary to wash clothes properly. Before sending an item to washing machine, fasten the zipper and turn the item inside out. Then the zipper on the jacket or jeans will last you longer.

Thus, if the lightning diverges, then it can be put in order independently. This is not so easy to do, but it is possible, the main thing is to follow the instructions. At the same time, remember that it is much easier to prevent a fastener from breaking than to repair it later.

Zip fasteners are found today on clothes, shoes, home textiles, sports equipment and a variety of accessories. Their main advantages are ease of use combined with aesthetic appearance. But, unfortunately, such fasteners sometimes break. How to fix the lightning, if it diverges, with your own hands?

Do not rush to carry the item for repair!

A broken clasp on an expensive item can be seriously upsetting. But before deciding whether to throw away a damaged item or visit a workshop, do not be too lazy to carefully examine the affected lightning. You can repair it yourself and very quickly, provided that the coil or teeth are not seriously damaged. Move the slider to the beginning of the fastener and carefully squeeze its edges with pliers alternately on each side. Do not put pressure on the jumper located in the middle, it can easily break under this impact. How to fix a zipper if it diverges, but there were no pliers at hand? A small hammer or any tool that can replace it will help you out. Lightly tap the edges of the slider so that they tighten. Usually this repair option allows you to save the clasp, which has just begun to diverge. But what to do if even the zipper on the jacket is compressed? How to fix the clasp in case of more serious breakdowns?

Do-it-yourself zipper teeth repair

Sometimes the lightning begins to diverge due to the breakage of one tooth or several. The easiest repair option is to find a similar donor clasp. Be sure to compare the size of the teeth, they should be the same. Remove the required number of elements from the donor zipper using tweezers or a small flat screwdriver. Then transfer and fix the teeth on the clasp to be repaired. Attention: when placing the cloves, it is important to accurately observe the intervals of gaps between them. For a strong fixation, simply clamp the elements with pliers. How to fix a zipper if it diverges due to the lack of a tooth, and a donor lock right size No? You can try to fill the gap with a suitable plastic fragment. If the fastener is small, just cut off a piece of suitable length from cotton swab. Then cut the workpiece lengthwise and try it on with a zipper. You can fix the tooth substitute by sewing it with dense threads to textile basis lightning.

Repair or sew?

How to fix a zipper if it diverges near its end? If the fastener functions for most of its length and begins to diverge only at the very end, you should think about the advisability of repairing it. Depending on the specifics of the cut of the product and the location of the zipper, it can be much more convenient and easier to simply sew it up at the point of breakage. Pick up the threads to match the textile part of the castle. And sew in a few stitches a zipper a few teeth above the place where it usually diverges. If this part of the lock is not visible, you can fasten it with a metal staples. This repair method will help you out if the zipper on your boot is broken. How to fix a lock quickly at home, you now know. But what needs to be done to ensure that lightning breaks as rarely as possible?

Secrets of zipper care and breakdown prevention

Try to always slowly and carefully unfasten and fasten the lock. It is especially important to explain to children that lightning does not tolerate sudden jerks and the use of brute force. Align the edges of the fastener before fastening. On some products, the zipper may bulge - it is advisable to try to level it and pull it. If the fastener has become very tight, it makes sense to lubricate it. For this, a bar of soap or wax candle– just rub the teeth on each side and enjoy the ease of unfastening.

Zippers on shoes should be cleaned regularly with a small brush. Fasteners of this type are especially afraid of getting dirt and sand. Completely different “weaknesses” of lightning on clothes. Before washing, they must be fastened and the product turned inside out. When ironing, try not to touch the fastener with the iron. By following these simple rules, you will most likely never run into problems. But if the zipper on the bag still broke, you now know how to fix it.

If you explain without abstruse physical terms, then lightning always strikes the highest object. Because lightning is an electrical discharge, and it takes the path of least resistance. That is why he will first hit the tallest tree in the field and the very tall building in the town. For example, lightning strikes the Ostankino TV tower about 50 times a year!

The length of lightning can be up to 20 km, and its diameter - from 10 to 45 cm. Lightning "lives" tenths of a second, and its average speed is 150 km/s. In this case, the current in lightning reaches 200,000 A.

What to do if lightning caught you in an open area

Do not hide under tall trees, especially single ones. The most dangerous in this case are deciduous trees such as oak and poplar. But in coniferous trees lightning strikes much less often, because they have essential oils that have electrical resistance (by the way, linden, walnut and beech are also in the security zone, they also have oils). At the same time, getting into bushes or low thickets is extremely unlikely.
On the open space it is best to hide in a hole or trench. At the same time, in no case do not lie down on the ground: it is better to sit down, bending your head slightly so that it is not higher than the surrounding objects. Keep your feet together to reduce the area of possible damage.
Don't run. The air current you create while running can attract fireballs.
Fold your umbrella and turn off your mobile, and get rid of other metal objects: fold them at a safe distance (at least 15 m).
If there are two or three of you, everyone should find a separate shelter for themselves, since our body is an excellent conductor for discharge.
Do not swim in water during thunderstorms. If bad weather takes you by surprise, do not run out of the water and do not wave your arms. Calmly and slowly exit the pond.
If you are in the mountains, avoid sharp ledges and elevations.

How to know that lightning is about to strike

If you are in an open area and suddenly feel that your hair is standing on end, and your skin is slightly tingling, or you feel a vibration emanating from objects, this means that now it will bang.

Such sensations appear 3–4 seconds before a lightning strike. Immediately bend forward with your hands on your knees (never on the ground!), put your heels together so that the discharge does not pass through the body.

What to do if you are indoors during a thunderstorm

Close vents, windows and doors.
Unplug electrical appliances from outlets.
Move away from windows and metal objects.
If you need to make an urgent call, do it immediately after a lightning strike - and quickly.

What happens if lightning strikes a person

When a person is struck by lightning, the discharge causes general disturbances. In places where the lightning has entered and exited, burns or woody red streaks may form. If the lesion was weak, there is tinnitus, general weakness.

But with a severe lesion, a person may faint, his body temperature drops sharply, his heartbeat slows down, and breathing may stop. But the victim can still be saved.

Is it possible to survive after being struck by lightning?

Yes. Firstly, despite the high temperature during the discharge, the impact does not last very long and does not always lead even to serious burns.

Secondly, the main current often passes through the surface of the body, so in most cases a lightning strike is not fatal. According to various estimates, death occurs in 5-10% of cases.

The likelihood of survival increases if there is a person nearby who knows how to do artificial respiration and heart massage. Even if a person seems dead, be sure to try to give him. Because there is always a chance for survival!

How to provide first aid for a lightning strike

The victim must be placed on a hard surface.
If a person is lucky and he just has a shock (loss of speech, fainting), try to get him out of this state. If you happen to have ammonia with you, use it. Call an ambulance.
If the person is unconscious and not breathing, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and chest compressions should be given as soon as possible.
Try non-stop resuscitation. You have a maximum of 15 minutes, after which the chances of escaping with a severe defeat are extremely small.

Lightning has always evoked admiration and at the same time reverent awe in people. This is not only a delightful sight in the sky, but at the same time a very formidable natural phenomenon that can destroy and kill.

At its core, lightning is a powerful electrical discharge in the atmosphere, a negatively charged charge transferred to the ground in itself, the magnitude of which is measurable in tens of pendants, when the current amplitude varies from 20 to 100 kA.

As a phenomenon, lightning has long been studied in laboratories by many scientists of the world, making attempts to recreate this wonderful phenomenon of nature artificially, dividing it into types, measuring it temperature regime and tension. But even today, not much more is known about such a phenomenon as lightning than, for example, 300 years ago.

So, what does a person know about lightning - interesting facts

At the same time, order is raging in different parts of the planet 2000 thunderstorms and peals of lightning, with about 50 lightning strikes the ground every second. What is most interesting - 1 sq. m. of the earth is struck by lightning 6 times a year.
Lightning moves towards the ground at a speed of 60,000 km/s, while the discharge itself in the air freezes and lasts only a few tenths of a second.
It is lightning that acts as such a recharge for electromagnetic field of our planet and the temperature of its charge can reach 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit- this is 5 times more than the temperature recorded on the surface of the Sun.
Quite often, such a phenomenon as lightning is observed where a large accumulation of smoke and emissions from oil refineries is recorded. In addition, such a statement that lightning does not strike the same place twice is a myth, when the discharge itself can hit the same point many times. At the same time, there is so much energy in such discharges that it is enough to power a 100-watt light bulb for 3 months.
The phenomenon itself - lightning, is characteristic not only for the planet Earth. It is observed and recorded by earth scientists on such planets. solar system like Venus and Jupiter, Uranus and Saturn.
The ancient Greeks in their faith believed that if lightning struck the ocean. That in its bowels a new pearl was born. In this case, the length of lightning, as a rule, is 2.5 - 3 meters, although it is not uncommon for it to reach 20 meters in length.
Psychologists have brought into a separate phobia a person’s fear specifically in relation to lightning - keraunophobia, but the fear of thunder, not lightning, is already brontophobia.
As practice shows, trees such as oak are most often affected by lightning, and beech is somewhat less common, and many scientists attribute this to a greater or lesser content of fatty oils in wood that attract lightning. At the same time, the ancients believed that from trees, or rather from their wood, into which a lightning discharge fell, amazing musical instruments having directly mystical sound and properties.
According to the data obtained, the frequency of lightning discharges is 1.4 billion per year and only a quarter of them hit the ground, and the remaining ¾ of the total hit the space between the clouds and inside them.
A sufficiently strong lightning discharge forms a shock wave around itself - it is it that, at a distance of several meters, can pose a considerable danger to all living things. Even without carrying a current discharge in itself, it is capable of breaking trees, injuring a person, mutilating.
When a thunderstorm is raging outside the window, you should not talk on the landline phone - leave it for later. The thing is that a current discharge can enter and harm a person and his house through telephone wires connecting the device to a pole standing on the street. Yes, and when a thunderstorm is raging, you should not touch water pipes and pipes from the central heating system that connect the house to the ground.
By its strength, a lightning discharge is such that it can heat the air near it up to one and a half thousand degrees - this result is comparable to the force of an explosion.

And a few more interesting facts about lightning.

How many times has lightning hit a person - a record holder for such an unusual indicator?

U.S. citizen who works as a caretaker in national park State of Virginia, in his lifetime survived 7 direct hits of a lightning discharge. This happened between 1942 and 1977 and is recorded in the Guinness Book of Records as a world record. But Roy died at the age of 71, and he was not struck to death by a lightning bolt - so the actual cause of death was suicide.

Where did lightning kill 11 soccer players during a sports match?

In 1998, in the Republic of the Congo, during a football match, a lightning bolt hit the field - as a result, 11 players from the invited team were killed on the spot, and another 30 spectators in the stands received severe burns as a result. At the same time, the host team and its players remained unharmed.

What kind of pattern leaves a lightning discharge on the human body?

If lightning strikes a person, very bizarre patterns can form on his body, which are called Lichtenberg patterns. It can be anything - a curl or just a line, a pattern resembling lightning itself or even the outline of a house or a tree. But the reddish pattern obtained as a result of a lightning strike will not leave the body for 3-4 days, gradually turning pale and disappearing completely.

What trace does lightning leave on the surface of the earth?

When a lightning discharge hits the ground, a corresponding trace is formed in the bowels of such a discharge strike. In this case, the so-called fulgurite- hollow glass tube It is formed from melted sand due to falling into the ground electric current lightning discharge and into the bowels of the earth, such a hollow tube can enter several meters, but due to its fragility, it is very difficult to extract them from the earth.

With the formation of powerful cumulonimbus, tower-shaped clouds at any point on the horizon of a thunderstorm, one should carefully observe the development of clouds. It must be remembered that the wind does not give a correct idea of the direction of the thunderstorm. Thunderstorms often go against the wind!

The distance to an approaching thunderstorm can be determined by counting the seconds between the flash of lightning and the sound of the first roll of thunder:

a second pause means that a thunderstorm is at a distance of 300-400 m,
three-second - 1 km,
four-second - 1.3 km, etc.

Thunderstorm is one of the most dangerous natural phenomena for humans.. An instantaneous lightning strike can cause paralysis, profound loss of consciousness, respiratory and cardiac arrest. When struck by lightning, specific burns remain on the body of the affected person in the form of reddish stripes and burns with blisters. In order not to suffer from a lightning strike, you need to know and follow some rules of behavior during a thunderstorm.

What is lightning

Lightning is a high voltage electrical discharge, huge current, high power and very high temperature, occurring in nature. Electrical discharges that occur between cumulus clouds or between a cloud and the ground are accompanied by thunder, heavy rain, often hail and squally winds. There are many types of lightning. V middle lane the most common are linear and ball lightning. They differ in appearance but equally dangerous to humans.

What to do during a thunderstorm

Summer thunderstorms are common, but not everyone knows how to protect yourself during a thunderstorm, what to do in order not to be struck by lightning.

Employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia in the Moscow Region give a number of simple tips, what to do during a thunderstorm:

First, during a thunderstorm, you should avoid open areas.. Lightning, as you know, hits the highest point, a lone person in the field - this is the very point. If for some reason you are left alone in the field with a thunderstorm, hide in any possible recess: a groove, a hollow or the lowest place in the field, squat down and bend your head, rescuers advise.
Second, avoid water during thunderstorms. because it is an excellent current conductor. The lightning strike spreads around the reservoir within a radius of 100 meters. Often she hits the shore. Therefore, during a thunderstorm, it is necessary to move away from the coast, you can not swim and fish.
It is very dangerous to speak during a thunderstorm. mobile phone . It is best to turn off cell phones during thunderstorms. There were cases when an incoming call caused a lightning strike.
During a thunderstorm, it is advisable to get rid of metal objects. Watches, chains, and even an umbrella opened over your head are potential targets for a strike. There are known cases of lightning strikes on a bunch of keys in your pocket.

So that lightning does not strike if you are in the forest

Lightning in a forest almost never strikes the ground, with the exception of clearings, because trees are natural lightning rods, and the probability of lightning hitting a particular tree is directly proportional to its height. So stay away from tall trees. The most competent option is to sit between stunted trees with dense crowns. At the same time, determine the approximate height of the trees you have chosen and try to place them at a distance not exceeding this height. Let's say the height of the trees is about 4-5 meters, respectively, it is necessary to place between them so that each of the trees is at least 4-5 meters away. This is called the "cone of protection". It is better to sit in the so-called "fetal position" - the back is bent, the head is lowered on the legs and forearms bent at the knees, the feet are joined together.

That most often lightning strikes oaks, poplars, elms.
Less often, lightning strikes spruce, pine.
Very rarely lightning strikes birches, maples.

During a thunderstorm in the forest it is impossible: choose a shelter tall trees or in trees previously struck by a thunderstorm, split (the abundance of trees struck by lightning indicates that the soil in this area has a high electrical conductivity, and a lightning strike in this area is very likely), you can not put up tents on open space, sit by a burning fire (smoke is a good conductor of electricity).

So that lightning does not strike if you are in the field

At the first sign of an approaching thunderstorm, you need to: move as quickly as possible towards the nearest reliable shelter (forest, village), moving away from separate trees or groves at the same time. If a standalone tree is located on your way to the village, don't go there. The priority is to remove possible zones discharge hits. You need to move away at least 150-200 m. With the onset of a thunderstorm, if you still haven’t run to shelter: you need to sit down as low as possible, and when the thunderstorm comes very close, lie down on the ground. And lie quietly, humbly, motionless. It should be remembered that sandy and stone soils are safer than clay soils. And do not rush to move when the storm starts to leave - wait 20-30 minutes after the last lightning struck.

During a thunderstorm in the field it is impossible: move, especially walk, straightened up; hide in haystacks, under the lonely standing trees or islands of trees, especially to touch them with hands and other parts of the body. human psychology is such that in a large and powerful one he tends to see protection. In a thunderstorm, the reverse law works: the smaller you are, the more chances you have not to fall under the category. Therefore, we go around the trees.

So that lightning does not strike if you are near a reservoir

If a thunderstorm approaches, leave the pond immediately and move as far away from the coastline as possible. A person on a boat, when a thunderstorm approaches, should immediately land on the shore. If this is not possible, drain the boat, change into dry clothes, if available, raise a protective awning, place a life jacket, boots, equipment, etc. under you. electrically insulating objects, cover with polyethylene in such a way that rainwater flows overboard, not into the watercraft, but at the same time polyethylene should not come into contact with water!

During a thunderstorm near a pond, you can’t: climb into the water, take cover in floodplain bushes and under trees.

So that lightning does not strike if you are in the mountains

In mountainous areas, when a thunderstorm approaches, one should try to descend from hills - ridges, hills, passes, peaks, etc. It is dangerous to be near watercourses (crevices, gutters, etc.), since during a thunderstorm even small cracks filled with water become a conductor for electricity to drain. It is best to stop near a high vertical plumb ("finger"). In this case, the height of the plumb line should be at least 5-6 times greater than the height of a person, respectively, the safety zone will be equal to the height of the plumb line, measured in horizontal plane. However, closer than 2 m to the wall should not be approached. You can hide in natural cave niches in the slope, but also no closer than 2 m from the wall. Metal objects - climbing hooks, ice axes, pots, collect in a backpack and lower on a rope 20-30 m down the slope.

During a thunderstorm in the mountains it is impossible: lean or touch when moving or resting against rocks, sheer walls, hiding under rocky overhangs.

So that lightning does not strike if you are in a car

The machine protects the people inside quite well, because even with a lightning strike, the discharge goes through the surface of the metal. Therefore, if a thunderstorm caught you in the car, close the windows, turn off the radio, cell phone and GPS-navigator. Do not touch door handles or other metal parts.

To avoid being struck by lightning if you are on a motorcycle

A bicycle and a motorcycle, unlike a car, will not save you from a thunderstorm. It is necessary to dismount, stow the vehicle and move about 30 m away from it.

When you are in a country or garden house during a thunderstorm, you should:

Close doors and windows, exclude drafts.
Do not heat the stove, close the chimney, because the smoke coming out of the chimney has a high electrical conductivity and can attract an electrical discharge.
Turn off the TV, radio, electrical appliances, turn off the antenna.
Turn off the means of communication: laptop, mobile phone.
You should not be near a window or in the attic, as well as near massive metal objects.

If a thunderstorm caught on the street:

Do not stay in open areas, near metal structures, power lines.
Do not touch anything wet, iron, electrical.
Remove all metal jewelry (chains, rings, earrings) from yourself, put it in a leather or plastic bag.
Don't open your umbrella.
Never seek shelter under large trees.
It is not advisable to be near a fire.
Stay away from wire fences.
Don't go out to take off clothes that are drying on the clotheslines, as they also conduct electricity.
Do not ride a bicycle or motorcycle.
Don't swim, stay away from the water.
It is very dangerous to talk on a mobile phone during a thunderstorm, it must be turned off.
A thunderstorm usually hits the highest point on its path. A lone man in the field - this is the highest point. It's even scarier to be in a thunderstorm on a lonely hill! If for some reason you are left alone in the field with a thunderstorm, hide in any possible depression: a groove, a hollow or the lowest point in the field, squat down and keep your head down. Lying on wet ground during a thunderstorm is not recommended.
Never try to hide under a lone tree.
During a thunderstorm, do not swim, do not fish, do not be near water bodies.

How to escape from ball lightning

If you are at home during a thunderstorm or in any room, do not be near batteries, windows, electrical appliances, antennas, wires and metal objects. Close windows, doors, chimneys and ventilation holes, to avoid drafts that attract fireballs.

Ball lightning looks like a freely floating horizontally or chaotically luminous ball with a diameter of several centimeters to several meters. Ball lightning can exist from a few seconds to three tens of seconds. It has great destructive power, causing fires, severe burns and sometimes death of a person or animal. It appears unpredictably and also suddenly disappears. Penetrates even into a closed room through a switch, socket, pipe, keyhole.

Remember, if you have witnessed such a phenomenon as ball lightning, try not to move or run away from it. Lightning attracts moving, tall, metallic and wet objects. If ball lightning flew into the room, you need to slowly, with bated breath, leave the room. If this is not possible, you need to stand without moving. After 10-100 seconds, she will bypass you and disappear. Ball lightning can appear without harming a person or a room, but it can explode, resulting in an air wave that can injure a person. Ball lightning has a temperature of about 5000 ° C and can cause a fire.

Help for the victim of a lightning strike

To provide first aid to a person struck by lightning, it should be moved to a safe place immediately. Touching the victim is not dangerous, there is no charge left in his body. Even if it seems that defeat is fatal, it may not actually be so.

If the lightning victim is unconscious, lay him on his back and turn his head to the side so that the tongue does not sink into the airways. It is necessary, without stopping for a minute, to do artificial respiration and heart massage until medical help arrives.

If these actions helped, and the person shows signs of life, before the arrival of doctors, give the victim 2-3 tablets of analgin, and put a wet, cold, cloth folded in several layers on his head. If there are burns, they must be poured with plenty of water, the burnt clothing should be removed, and then the affected area should be covered with a clean dressing. When transporting the injured to the nearest medical institution, it is necessary to put him on a stretcher and constantly monitor his well-being.

For relatively mild lightning strikes give the victim any painkiller (analgin, tempalgin, etc.) and a sedative medicine (valerian tincture, corvalol, etc.)

Photo Anna Fomicheva

A thunderstorm is a phenomenon that both fascinates and frightens at the same time, because it is impossible to predict where the celestial charge will hit. And although the probability of a direct lightning strike on a person is extremely small, there are many victims of this formidable element every year. Be that as it may, knowing how to protect yourself from lightning during bad weather certainly does not hurt.

Safety rules during a thunderstorm

1. What to do during a thunderstorm while in the apartment

During a thunderstorm, a person can feel safest only indoors. However, even here there is no 100% guarantee to remain unscathed if you do not follow the precautions:

During bad weather, do not go to the windows and do not go out onto the balcony;

Do not use a landline telephone - if the house is poorly protected from lightning strikes or this protection is broken, an electric charge can pass through the wires and strike through the telephone receiver;

Refrain from using the shower and washbasin - in the event of a faulty grounding, water pipes can become an excellent conductor of electricity after a lightning strike. For the same reason, it is best to stay away from heating pipes;

Just in case, turn off electrical appliances from the network: at least - they can fail from power surges, as a maximum - a short circuit can lead to a fire.

2. What to do if a thunderstorm caught you outside

In an urban area, during thunderstorms, you can feel relatively safe, as there are many objects that are more attractive to lightning than a lone passerby. However, there were cases when the discharge hit a person, despite the fact that there were many more suitable targets around. Therefore, during a thunderstorm, it is better to find shelter in the house as soon as possible, or at least hide in the front door. While you're out and about, follow these guidelines:

No matter how strong the downpour is, do not use an umbrella - it can act as a lightning rod;

Do not hide under the canopy of city stops public transport- for the most part they are metal structure, and the metal is a good conductor, which increases the chances of attracting lightning;

3. What happens if lightning hits a vehicle

If during celestial flares you are inside a vehicle, be it a train, bus or car, you don't have to worry about your safety. Damage can be expected by the vehicle itself, and the driver and passengers have nothing to fear. The main thing is that the transport is hermetically sealed. In such cases, physics is on our side - according to the principle of the Faraday cage, a lightning discharge will flow over the surface of the case and go through the wheels into the ground.

4. How to protect yourself from lightning in a park or forest

Being among the trees, you should not look for protection in them during a thunderstorm, it is better to stay away from them, especially from tall specimens. Keep in mind that lightning, contrary to the prevailing myth, can strike the same place several times in a row, so you do not need to run to a tree that has already been attacked from the sky. It is also worth considering that an electric discharge, after a lightning strike, can spread along the ground up to 30 meters around.

To protect yourself from lightning in a forest or park, hide in the bushes - they almost never get a charge. Hiding in vegetation, crouch or squat, but do not touch the ground with your hands or "fifth point";

Take note: the best guides among trees are poplar, oak, ash and willow - proximity to them does not bode well. But linden, walnut, spruce, fir and beech are less dangerous - they contain a large amount of oils, which increases the current resistance. This means that between oak and walnut, lightning will rather choose oak as a victim.

5. How to save yourself from lightning in an open field

Being in a “clean” field during a thunderstorm is extremely dangerous due to the fact that there are no high targets around that can attract lightning. Therefore, your primary task should be not to become the most tall object in this territory.

Do not approach hills, rocky hills. In this case, you should also stay away from shrubs;

Try to find a lowland and hide there;

Get down on your haunches and group into a baby pose. However, you should not lie down and lean on the ground with your hands - the more points of contact with it, the greater the chance of defeat. electric charge, which spreads over the earth after a lightning strike.

6. What to do if a thunderstorm caught near a reservoir

Hearing thunder while swimming in the lake - get out on land as soon as possible. Being in the water during a thunderstorm is extremely dangerous:

Firstly, water is an excellent conductor, which means it readily attracts lightning;

Secondly, swimming in a pond, your head above the surface of the water surface will be the most high point, making her the number one target;

Thirdly, due to the superconductivity of water, a lightning discharge can strike all living things within a radius of 100 meters from the point of impact.

When in a boat during a thunderstorm, land on the shore as soon as possible. If this is not possible, you should put rubber boots, a life jacket or other things that do not conduct electricity under you. Crouch as low as possible and if there is a tarp, cover it so that rainwater flows overboard, but the edges of the polyethylene should not touch the water.

7. How to determine the distance to lightning

Thanks to the difference between the speed of light (flash) and the speed of sound (thunder), calculating how far or close lightning flashes from you is quite simple - count how many seconds pass between the flash and the thunder, and then divide the number of seconds by 3 and get the distance in kilometers that separate you. If thunder sounds after 3-4 seconds, it means that lightning strikes about a kilometer from you, and this promises danger and means it's time to look for shelter.

8. What to do if a person is struck by lightning

It is far from always that a direct hit by a lightning discharge in a person promises inevitable death for him - according to some reports, about 90% remain alive, although they receive serious damage to the body. Basically, the brain, heart and lungs suffer - it is through these organs that the main discharge passes. Therefore, in order to save the victim, it is worth immediately moving him to a safer place and checking for signs of life. If breathing and heartbeat are absent, start artificial respiration and heart massage. By the way, you should not be afraid to touch a person struck by lightning - the charge has already passed through him and will not shock you.

These tips will help you protect yourself from lightning and better organize your actions so as not to get hurt during a thunderstorm. Take care of yourself.

According to the materials of the site "How to"

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