There Is One Time When You Really Shouldn't Shower Or Risk Death

UPDATED 10/9/20234

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says there is one time that you should skip your shower, and that’s when there is a thunderstorm accompanied by lightning. At those times you’d be better off staying dirty a little longer and letting the dishes pile up in the sink.

This is because lightning can actually travel through through your home’s plumbing and it can kill you or seriously injure you. The CDC said, “The risk of lightning traveling through plumbing might be less with plastic pipes than with metal pipes. However, it is best to avoid any contact with plumbing and running water during a lightning storm to reduce your risk of being struck.”

Hmm. Who knew?

Don’t shower during a thunderstorm

In addition, it is always best to stay inside during a thunderstorm and away from windows and concrete floors or walls. The CDC added that you should “not use anything connected to an electrical outlet, such as computers or other electronic equipment. Stay off corded phones. Cell phones and cordless phones are safe … if they are not connected to an outlet through a charger.”

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If you are struck directly by lightning, this can be fatal but you also risk serious injuries if you get too close or touch a metal object that itself may have been struck. It can cause skin burns and lesions, brain, muscle, or eye injuries. Moral of the story… you don’t want to be struck by lightning or get anywhere near it.

THE DARK DIVIDE, David Cross, 2020. © Strike Back Studios / Courtesy Everett Collection

So, just to drive home the point, most deaths and injuries occur if the person is outside but it still isn’t good to risk it by showering or bathing. Just wait until the lightning has passed in your area — it shouldn’t take long — and then you can luxuriate in a shower and wash yourself for as long as you’d like.