Lightning Safety Tips

How to Know if You Are in Danger?

Lightning is a threat whenever:

• You see lightning or hear thunder.
• You hear loud static on your AM radio.
• You hear buzzing sounds on radio antennas
• Mastheads begin to glow.
  
  Information available on NOAA Factsheet Vol. 1

When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!

• 98% were outside
• 89% were male
• 30% were male between the ages of 20 - 25
• 25% were standing under a tree
• 25% occurred on or near water
  
  

  Lightning Kills,
  
  Play it Safe

  
  
  Information courtesy of www.nws.noaa.gov

How Far Away is the Thunderstorm

• Count the number of seconds between a flash of lightning and the next clap of thunder.
• Divide this number by five to determine the distance to the lightning in miles.

Lightning Facts

Information available courtesy U.S. Department of Commerce NOAA

• Lightning causes an average of 80 fatalities and 300 injuries each year
• Lightning occurs in all thunderstorms; each year lightening strikes the Earth 20 million times.
• The energy from one lightning flash could light a 100-watt light bulb for more than 3 months.
• Most lightning fatalities and injuries occur when people are caught outdoors in the summer months during the afternoon and evening.
• Lightning can occur from cloud-to-cloud, within a cloud, cloud-to-ground, or cloud-to-air.
• Many fires in the western United States and Alaska are started by lightning.
• The air near a lightning strike is heated to 50,000 Farenheit -- hotter than the surface of the sun! The rapid heating and cooling of the air near the lightning channel causes a shock wave that results in thunder.
  
  
  

  Lightning can strike twice or more than once hitting the same spot or person.

There May Be Little or Nothing You Can Do...

as a last desperate resort:

• Crouch down on the balls of your feet, put your hands over your ears, and bend your head down.
• Do not lie flat on the ground.
  
  

  
  Coach & Sports Official Guide

Know the Basic Facts:

• All thunderstorms produce lightning are dangerous.
• Lightning often strikes outside the area of heavy rain and may strike as far as 10 miles from any rainfall.
• If you hear thunder, you are in danger.
• Lightning leaves many victims with permanent disabilities.

Avoiding the Lightning Threat:

• Plan ahead.
• Postpone activities.
• Monitor the weather.
• Get to a safe place.
• Stay inside.

What to Do When Your Inside:

• Keep away from windows and doors.
• Turn off TVs, computers and other electronics.
• Don't use the microwave or other electric appliances.
• Stay away from sinks and tubs.
• Don't use the telephone unless it is an emergency.

What Should You Do When You Can't Get to a Safe Place:

• Avoid open areas and stay away from isolated tall trees, towers, or utility poles.
• Stay away from metal bleachers, backstops, and fences.
• Spread out because this reduces the risk of multiple lightning casualties.

Someone is Struck by Lightning, How Can You Help?

1. Call for help (9-1-1).
2. Give first aid (CPR if necessary).
3. If possible, move the victim to a safer place.
   
   

   www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov