Summer showers may be bringing much needed rain to the heart of Sand Mountain but they also have been producing deadly lightening strikes with its storms.

According to the National Weather Service, 18 fatalities in 14 states have been reported this year so far due to lightening.

Do you know how to protect yourself or your family in a lightening storm?

These safety tips should be followed in the case of a lightening storm.

·         Stay Alert

Monitor local weather conditions regularly with a weather radio or am AM/FM radio.

Recognize the signs of an oncoming lightening or thunderstorm. Towering clouds with a "cauliflower" shape, dark skies and distant rumbles of thunder or flashes of lightning. Do not wait for lightning to strike nearby before taking cover.

·         Seek Shelter

Look for a large, enclosed building when a thunder or lightning storm threatens. That's the best choice.

If you are in a car and it has a hard top, stay inside and keep the windows rolled up.

Avoid small sheds and lean-tos or partial shelters, like pavilions.

Stay at least a few feet away from open windows, sinks, toilets, tubs, showers, electric boxes and outlets, and appliances. Lightning can flow through these symptoms and "jump" to a person.

Do not shower or take a bath during a thunder or lightning storm

Avoid using regular telephones, except in an emergency. If lightning hits the telephone lines, it could flow to the phone. Cell or cordless phones, not connected to the building's wiring, are safe to use.

·         If you are caught outside and unable to reach safety

If your skin tingles or your hair stands on the end, a lightning strike may be about to happen. Crouch down on the balls of your feet with your feet close together. Keep your hands on your knees and lower your head. Get as low as possible without touching your hands or knees to the ground. Do not lie down.

If you are swimming, fishing or boating and there are clouds, dark skies and distant rumbles of thunder or flashes of lightning, get to land immediately and seek shelter.

If you are in a boat and cannot get to shore, crouch down in the middle of the boat. Go below if possible.

If you are on land, find a low spot away from trees, metal fences, pipes, tall or long objects.

If you are in the woods, look for an area of shorter trees. Crouch down away from tree trunks.

·         Helping someone who has been struck by lightening

When someone is struck by lightning, get emergency medical help as soon as possible. If more than one person is struck by lightning, treat those who are unconscious first. They are at greatest risk of dying. A person struck by lightning may appear dead, with no pulse or breath. Often the person can be revived with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). There is no danger to anyone helping a person who has been struck by lightning - no electric charge remains. CPR should be attempted immediately.

Treat those who are injured but conscious next. Common injuries from being struck by lightning are burns, wounds and fractures.

Captain John Clifton of the Marine Police recommends people keep a weather eye.

"If you plan on heading down to the beach or out on a boat, just take a look at the weather before you go," Clifton urges. "You can also get a Marine-Ban radio that has instant access to the weather and what's coming in."

Clifton says if individuals are out on the water and hear thunder, they should get out of the water, even if its sunny.

"If you hear thunder, you need to get out the water as soon as possible," Clifton said. "If your out on a boat in the middle of the lake you're the highest point out there, and a very easy target to be struck during a storm. A lot of people don't even look at the forecast before they head out. They think if they see the clouds coming in they will have time to get out and find shelter, but that's not always the case."