Which action should be avoided during a lightning storm in the outdoors?

• A. Seeking shelter in a vehicle
• B. Disposing of metal objects
• C. Avoiding low lying areas where water will collect
• D. Taking shelter under a pine tree

Answer: (D)

Taking shelter under a pine tree during a lightning storm is a dangerous action and should be avoided. Trees, including pine trees, can attract lightning strikes due to their height and moisture content. When lightning strikes a tree, it can cause serious injuries or fatalities to anyone who is seeking shelter beneath it, as the electrical current can travel through the ground and affect nearby individuals.

Additionally, being under a tree increases the risk of being injured not just from the lightning itself but also from falling branches or the tree splitting due to the electrical discharge. Proper shelter during a lightning storm includes staying inside a sturdy building or inside a vehicle with a closed metal roof, which provides much better protection against lightning strikes.