The summer is a great time for travel,
the beach and other adventures (athletic or otherwise). Many of these adventures are likely to be
outdoors given the warm sun and the cool breezes that this time of year can
bring. Last week I reminded everyone to
play it safe in the sun and to protect yourself from sunburn and skin cancer. (If
you missed last week’s post, click here.)This
week I’d like to talk about lightning safety.
Lightning-related deaths are consistently in the top 2 of storm-related
deaths each year in the United States.
Over the last decade there have been an average of 42 deaths and an
estimated 10 times as many injuries in the US annually. It is very important to get yourself and
those with you to safety in the event of a storm. This blog post will outline some of the key
things you should know to protect yourself in the event of lightning.
KEY RECOMMENDATIONS:
- Formalize and implement a comprehensive
lightning-safety policy or emergency action plan (EAP).
- Designate and locate primary choices for
a safe location in the event of a lightning strike.
- Designate and locate secondary choices
for a safe location in the event of lightning strike.
- Seek a safe structure or location at the
first sign of lightning or thunder activity.
- Postpone or suspend activity if a
thunderstorm appears imminent before or during an activity or contest
regardless of whether lightning is seen or thunder is heard.
- Suspended activities should only be
resumed if 30 minutes have passed since the last sound of thunder or lightning
flash.
- Avoid being in contact with, or in
proximity to the highest point of an open field or on the open water.
- Avoid taking showers and using plumbing
facilities and land-line telephones. If
a phone must be used in an emergency cell phones are safer.
- Assume the lightning safe position if you
feel your hair stand on end or your skin tingle. Do not lie flat on the ground.
- Know
the appropriate first aid procedures for a lightning strike victim.
LIGHTNING STRIKE RISK:
The most important thing anyone can do is
understand your risk for thunderstorms and lightning strikes. That means knowing if you’re in an area where
thunderstorms are common as well as having a dependable weather report resource
available for decision-making. This map
is from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) represents
the lightning strike density based on data collected by the National Lightning
Detection Network (NLDN). To read the
map, the more red the area the greater the lightning strike density, meaning
those in Florida and other areas of the Southeast and Midwest are most at risk.
KNOW THE EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN:
For those of you who are not planning the
athletic event it may not be your responsibility to develop a lightning safety
specific EAP, but if you are I encourage you to be proactive and have a
plan. For those of you attending
tournaments and events, make sure you know what the plan is. It is especially important to know what the
event will be using as primary and secondary safe locations and how long it
will take you to get to those locations should a storm move into the area. There may be times where a storm approaches
suddenly and you have little time to get to safety, knowing where you need to
go in advance will save you time and worry.
GETTING TO SAFETY:
As soon as you see lightning or hear
thunder you should get to a designated safe location and seek shelter. Previous recommendations stated that once the
flash-to-bang reached 30 seconds you should begin to seek shelter. This recommendation has now become once the
flash-to-bang reached 30 seconds you should ALREADY
be in a safe location. The flash to bang
time is the number of seconds between the lightning flash and its associated
thunder boom. Five seconds of time is
equal to one mile of distance to strike from where you’re standing. A time of 30 seconds means the lightning is
within 6 miles and can potentially strike where you’re standing next (it’s been
shown to jump up to 6 miles from strike to strike). Once it’s clear you need to leave, you need
to know where to go.
PRIMARY
SAFE LOCATION:
Any substantial building that has plumbing, electrical wiring and
telephone service would make an ideal safe location. It is likely that the lightning current is
more likely to follow plumbing, electrical wiring and telephone wiring to the
ground, aiding in grounding the structure.
However, given the conductive nature of plumbing and wiring congregating
in locker-room shower areas, swimming pools or areas with a large number of
electrical appliances should be avoided.
SECONDARY
SAFE LOCATION:
The best example of a secondary safe location is an automobile. The metal (not the rubber in the tires) in
the car ground the car and make it a safe alternative for seeking shelter in a
storm if something else is not available.
Be sure the windows are rolled up. A convertible, golf cart, bleachers or a
storage shed are not acceptable safe locations.
If you are caught outside and you don’t
have an option to seek shelter the most important thing is DO NOT
seek shelter underneath a tree or other tall objects in the area. Lightning is attracted to the tallest objects
and highest points in an area and so these should be avoided. Your goal should be to assume the lightning
safe position in the largest, lowest open area you can find (especially if your
hair has started to stand up and you feel your skin tingling). Doing this minimizes your contact with the
ground and makes you as small as possible.
DO NOT lie flat on the ground.
SUSPENDING ACTIVITIES:
The Emergency Action Plan should clearly
delineate the decision-making process for postponing or suspending events and
activities. It’s important that
decisions about events be made if a storm appears to be imminent based on
available data, not once the storm has begun.
Once an event has been suspended it should not be resumed until the
lightning and thunder has stopped for at least 30 minutes. If you’re interested in decision-making for
large athletic venues review that section of the position statement, since it’s
beyond the scope of this blog post.
FIRST AID FOR STRIKE VICTIMS:
Individuals can be injured by the
lightning strike itself, as well as by the secondary results of the strike such
as fire, falling objects or the strike shockwaves. If you are in a position to help, the victim
should be moved to a safe location, but do not compromise your own safety to
help. Once to safety, it’s likely you
will need to begin CPR and rescue breathing.
If an AED is available it should be used as soon as possible. Remember, victims do not carry an
electrical charge after they have been struck, you can safely tough them
without being injured yourself.
Additional information about caring for lightning victims and the
long-term effects of injury are available in the NATA Position Statement.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
As an athletic trainer for the last 15
years I have had plenty of situations where thunderstorms and lightning have
impacted athletic events I have covered.
Sometimes these events were postponed and resumed, sometimes they were
cancelled. Reflecting on my personal
experiences with lightning safety if I could give parents and athletes any
advice on how to handle such situations, it would be to please listen to those
in charge and do what they ask. As
appropriate move to the designated safe location and wait for further
instructions, even if you don’t see lightning or hear thunder. They have your best interest in mind (as well
as access to weather forecasting and other information you may not). Also, I know that your first instinct may be
to run under the bleachers or the nearest tree to take shelter from the rain,
but this actually puts you at further risk for being struck by lightning. In the end, know the lightning safety plan
for where you are and listen to the decision-maker in case of an impending
storm and stay safe!
‘‘NO Place
Outside Is Safe When Thunderstorms Are In
The Area!’’
‘‘When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!’’
Submitted by Heather L. Clemons, MS, MBA, ATC
