"In the case of a nearby lightning strike, crouch down, put your feet together and place your hands over your ears - a lightning strike can crush ear drums."

I dunno about you guys, but in the milliseconds between a "nearby lightning strike" and the arrival of the thunderclap, I don't think I'd have quite enough time to assume a protective position. What kind of idiot wrote that? The only time there's a significant gap is when it's miles away, at which point the thunder isn't going to crush your eardrums.

Also chicbicyclist, I personally differentiate between being "hit" by lightning, as in: standing in an open field on top a hill yelling mean things about God's mother, and being "shocked" by lightning, as in washing your hands when your house gets hit.

Lots of people survive getting shocked, not so much getting hit.