Lightning Safety: Make It Part of Your Game Plan!

Author: Andy Kula, Senior Meteorologist
National Weather Service

Lightning Deaths by State, 1990 to 2003

When thunderstorms threaten, coaches and sports officials must not let the desire to start or complete an athletic activity hinder their judgment when the safety of participants and spectators is in jeopardy. Each year in the United States, more than 400 people are struck by lightning. On average, about 70 people are killed and many others suffer permanent neurological disabilities. Most of these tragedies can be avoided if proper precautions are taken.

Coaches Resources:

What can you do?

Plan ahead. Have a lightning safety plan. Know where people will go for safety and how much time it will take for them to get there. Have specific guidelines for suspending the event or activity so that everyone has time to reach safety. Follow the plan without exception.
Postpone activities. Prior to a practice or event, check the latest forecast. If thunderstorms are forecast, consider postponing activities early to avoid being caught in a dangerous situation.
Monitor the weather. Select a “weather watcher” at athletic events who can watch the sky, monitor weather reports and radar via the internet, or via NOAA Weather Radio. Watch and listen for clues of impending danger. Look for darkening skies, flashes of lightning, or increasing wind, which may be signs of a developing or approaching thunderstorm. Listen for thunder.
Get to a safe place. If you hear thunder, suspend your activity immediately and instruct everyone to get to a safe place. Substantial buildings provide the best protection. Once inside, stay off corded phones and away from any wiring or plumbing. Avoid sheds, small or open shelters, dugouts, bleachers, or grandstands.

Use the 30-30 rule!

If the time between lightning and thunder is 30 seconds or less, go to a safer location.
If the lightning can’t be seen, just hearing thunder means you should go to a safer location.
WAIT at least 30 MINUTES after hearing the last thunder before leaving the safer location.

The top activities for lightning casualties in the U.S.

Open Fields and Elevated Places
Under Trees (or other tall isolated object)
Water Related Activities (swimming, boating, fishing, etc.)
Golfing
Open Vehicles (farm, construction, etc.)
Telephone • Radio and Radio Equipment

Outdoor sports have the fastest rising lightning casualty rate! Coaches, referees, parents, and children PLEASE have a lightning safety plan! Here are some comprehensive guidelines.
Open picnic pavilions, dugouts and rain shelters offer absolutely no protection from lightning!
Use the '30-30 Rule'! PREVENTION IS KEY!
Get prompt medical treatment if someone is struck. CPR could save the victim’s life if their heart has stopped or they have stopped breathing. More on medical aspects of lightning.

Learn more about these “Bolts from the Blue” at:
http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/bolt_blue.htm

If you are coaching, remember this.

You are a manager of a little league team and have a game this evening at the local recreational park. The weather forecast for the day calls for partly cloudy skies, with a chance of thunderstorms by early evening. You arrive in your vehicle while the kids arrive with their parents. Once arriving at the park, you notice the only buildings are the restrooms, an enclosed building. Shortly after sunset, the skies start to cloud up and you see bright flashes in the sky to the west. The local radio station mentions storms are on the way.

In this case, the safest locations are the vehicles the kids came in or the rest rooms. You should have a choice of allowing the kids to go back to their vehicles or bring everyone into the restrooms. It is important NOT to stay in the dugouts as they are not safe place during lightning activity. Once at a safe place, wait 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder before going back outside.

Lightning Awareness Week

Last week in June annually

Join us to promote lightning awareness. Contact your local National Weather Service office for more information.