LIGHTNING SAFETY WEEK

LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK...

...TODAYS TOPIC IS OUTDOOR LIGHTNING SAFETY...

THE BEST RULE OF THUMB CONCERNING LIGHTNING SAFETY IS TO BE INDOORS.
BE SURE TO RECOGNIZE WHEN STORMS ARE APPROACHING OR SKIES BEGIN
DARKENING. IF THUNDER IS HEARD IT IS TIME TO TAKE ACTION. GIVE
YOURSELF ENOUGH TIME TO MOVE INSIDE. DO NOT TAKE CHANCES.

IN 2011...PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED BY LIGHTNING PERFORMING TORNADO
DAMAGE SUPPORT...GOLFING...BAILING HAY...FEEDING LIVESTOCK AND
ROUNDING UP CATTLE. ALL THESE ACTIVITIES WERE OUTDOOR. ON JUNE 14TH
LIGHTNING WAS OCCURRING IN THE REGION WHILE MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
GAMES CONTINUED AS WELL WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN QUITE DANGEROUS.

NO PLACE IS ABSOLUTELY SAFE FROM LIGHTNING BUT SOME PLACES ARE MUCH
SAFER THAN OTHERS. A LARGE ENCLOSED BUILDING IS THE SAFEST...LIKE A
HOME...SCHOOL...OFFICE BUILDING OR SHOPPING CENTER. ENCLOSED
BUILDINGS ARE USUALLY SAFE BECAUSE OF WIRING AND PLUMBING.

ON THE OTHER HAND...UNSAFE BUILDINGS WOULD INCLUDE PARK SHELTERS...
SHEDS...CAR PORTS...COVERED PATIOS...TENTS OR BASEBALL DUGOUTS.

IF THERE IS NO BUILDING TO SEEK REFUGE IN...USUALLY A VEHICLE IS A
SAFE OPTION. A SAFE VEHICLE INCLUDES ANY HARD-TOPPED CAR...SUV...
BUS OR TRACTOR. MAKE SURE ALL DOORS AND WINDOWS ARE CLOSED AND
AVOID TOUCHING ANY METAL SURFACES. IF YOUR VEHICLE HAS EXTERIOR
ANTENNAS FOR AMATEUR RADIOS OR CELL PHONES...USE EXTREME CAUTION
WHEN USING THEM DURING A THUNDERSTORM.

UNSAFE VEHICLES INCLUDE SOFT-TOPPED CONVERTIBLES...MOTORCYCLES...
AND TRACTORS WITHOUT CABS. BICYCLES ARE ALSO NOT SAFE.

IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTDOORS WITH NO ENCLOSED BUILDING OR VEHICLE TO
SEEK REFUGE IN...AVOID STANDING NEAR ISOLATED TALL TREES THAT MAY
ATTRACT A STRIKE. THE RAIN WILL NOT KILL YOU BUT THE NEARBY
LIGHTNING STRIKE COULD. AVOID PARTIALLY ENCLOSED BUILDINGS AND
ANY TALL OBJECT. AVOID CAMPING IN AN OPEN FIELD OR NEAR THE TOP OF
HILLS. STAY AWAY FROM METAL OBJECTS SUCH AS FENCES OR POLES.

WITH NO SAFE BUILDING OR VEHICLE AVAILABLE...A HIGHWAY OVERPASS
MIGHT OFFER SOME PROTECTION. TRY TO FIND A DITCH OR LOW SPOT TO GET
TO BUT ANY ATTEMPT TO FIND SHELTER OR A VEHICLE IS MUCH SAFER.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF LIGHTNING INJURIES AND DEATHS ON BOATS OCCUR ON
SMALL BOATS WITH NO CABIN. BOATS WITH CABINS OFFER SOME PROTECTION
BUT ARE STILL NOT IDEAL. HEAD TO SHORE AND SEEK COVER IN A BUILDING
OR VEHICLE UNTIL THE STORM PASSES.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...PLEASE CHECK OUR WEB PAGE DEDICATED TO
LIGHTNING INFORMATION AND SAFETY AT..