Being struck by lightning is definitely more likely than winning the Powerball jackpot: Every year, lightning kills an average of 79 individuals, according to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In every year since 1968, lighting has consistently killed many more American men than women, according to the report.

The data was released just days before a lightning strike injured 12 male soldiers at a base in Fort Carson, Colo.

Lightning killed 21 men in 2010, the most recent year for which data is available. That number represents a steady decline in male deaths from lightning since 1968 when the death toll was more than 100.

On the other hand, women have had far more success avoiding lightning strikes. The annual deaths for women from lightning have rarely exceeded 20 and have never reached the levels of male deaths.

A recent study by NOAA’s National Weather Service might have an explanation for the greater number of men lightning deaths than women. Many of the top leisure activities that expose people to lightning strikes feature mostly male participants.

From 2006 to 2012, fishing, camping, boating, soccer and golf were responsible for the most lightning deaths. Fishing was the top culprit, causing 26 deaths.

The study authors believed that people are most vulnerable to lightning fatalities during these activities because they take extra time to get to safety.

Both the NOAA study and the CDC data show large decreases in total deaths from lightning in the past few decades. Awareness has been key to decreasing the number of lightning deaths. If you are outdoors and hear thunder you should seek shelter immediately, says the NOAA. After lightning is spotted in the area, people are advised to stay indoors for at least 30 minutes.

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