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Lightning Safety is inconvenient and many times can ‘get in the way’. It’s a tough decision for a Ref or umpire to call a game because of thunder in the distance. There are also many myths and misconceptions in lightning safety, so many that it is hard at times to know the right thing to do. There are also plenty of products that you can purchase that run the gauntlet from detecting to predicting lightning. We recommend the use of one of the two detection networks in your quest for lightning safety, either the NLDN or the USPLN. The USPLN, via WDT, Inc., is the network used for our lighting alert program. Over the last several years I have looked at how to stop others, especially kids from having to go through what I am, it is not fun. I have not found anything that can predict when and where lightning will strike, so I have settled for something that ‘detects and warns’. I have asked several manufactures of devices that detect and predict lightning to send us their scientific test results or submit to a test of their products but to date I have not heard back from anyone. If you cannot afford any of the options that you have seen, you can always get a cheap portable am radio and turn the dial where there are no channels, and you should hear the static caused by distant thunder storms, they tell me it is an old storm chaser trick.
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Michael
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Lightning is the 2nd leading source of storm deaths in the US in most years and in many states lightning is the leading source of weather deaths.
Lightning only kills about 10% of the people it strikes leaving many of the rest with life long debilitating injuries. Public education is a very cost effective method in dealing with this injury and its many casualties.
Lightning safety has evolved over the last couple of years and some of the things done in the past are no longer recommended.
The main thing is that NO place outside is safe in a thunderstorm. If you hear thunder or see lightning you need to get inside a substantial building or a hard top automobile.
The 30-30 rule is being phased out because we would rather see you count inside, so we have replaced the first 30 with ‘When thunder roars go indoors’ and the second 30 with ‘and stay there for 30 minutes’.
Once inside you need ‘not to do stupid things’. That means stay off anything that is conductive, such as wiring or plumbing, that could conduct a charge to you. Lightning could strike outside the building and come in through many different avenues. Stay away from corded phones, computers, do not take a bath or shower, do not do the dishes or swim in an indoor pool. One thing to note, even though it may be difficult to buy a phone with a cord, there are still many game terminals (Play Stations/Gameboys) that use cords, and these cords can carry the charge to your child. So when it gets ugly outside and you send the kids to the basement to play video games, make sure the terminals are cordless.
The lightning squat is also something that we have pretty much done away with, since it creates a false sense of security. (Lowering your height from 5’6” to 3’ 6” probably does not do that much when you are talking about something with as much force as a lightning bolt, and most people are hit by a ground strike anyway).
The following are the FIVE LEVELS OF LIGHTNING SAFETY
Schedule outdoor activities to avoid lightning. When outdoors, know when & where to be in a safe place. When you hear thunder, go to a safe place. Stay there for 30 minutes after the last thunder.
Safe places are large fully-enclosed buildings with wiring and plumbing, e.g. house, school, store, etc., or a vehicle with a solid metal top and solid metal sides, e.g. most cars, trucks or buses.
If you must be outdoors with thunderstorms in the area, avoid dangerous locations & activities (elevated places, open areas, tall isolated objects, & water related activities (swimming, boating, fishing, beachcombing near edge of bodies of water). Do NOT go under trees to keep dry in thunderstorms!!!
Last minute personal outdoor lightning risk reduction, including the ‘lightning crouch’ is no longer advocated for the general public.
First Aid: immediately start CPR & have someone else call 9-1-1. Use an AED if available. Do not delay CPR.
If you choose to ignore the FIVE LEVELS OF LIGHTNING SAFETY, Call Coroner and Priest
25-Jul-08
