Staring Down Lightning? Wet Clothes Might Save Your Life

It might lack the flair of a bullet-deflecting belt buckle, but Kent Lilyerd's wet clothing may have saved his life.

The Mora, Minn., man was trying to secure a gazebo tent during a thunderstorm when he was struck square on the top of the head by a bolt of lightning. He came to an hour later with his socks singed, his hat shredded and a blackened nickel in his pocket, yet he was still able to muster the strength to crawl back to his house and get help.

Specialists speculate that Lilyerd's three layers of soaking wet clothing aided his body's natural resistance to electricity by distributing the powerful charge in a "spider web pattern" over his skin's surface.

So as a precaution, we're recommending our readers douse themselves in whatever liquid is available any time storm clouds roll in. If you're at a picnic, use beer (or just pee your pants). Fellow picnic-goers may look at you strangely, but rest assured -- they're getting zapped first.