Lightning and storm safety
Carbon rods are lightning rods. Off the water is the only safe answer.
Call 112 territory
What to do now
- 1If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck: stop fishing.
- 2Lay rods down flat and away from you; get off open water, piers, ice and exposed banks.
- 3Shelter in a hard-topped vehicle or a substantial building. In a boat's enclosed cabin, stay off metal.
- 4Wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before returning.
- 5If someone is struck: it is safe to touch them — call 112 and start CPR if not breathing normally.
Do not
- 1Do not shelter under a lone tree, mast or open shelter.
- 2Do not hold a carbon rod or a landing net pole upright.
- 3Do not stand on ice or in shallow water during a storm.
Seek urgent help if
- 1Anyone struck, dazed or knocked over — always an emergency, even if they look fine.
- 2Burns, confusion, chest pain or an irregular heartbeat after a strike.
Aftercare
- 1Check the forecast again before returning; storm cells often arrive in trains.
- 2Log the incident in your trip notes so the group learns from it.
This page is general first-aid guidance for anglers. It cannot diagnose an injury and does not replace professional emergency care. If you are unsure, call 112.