Lightning Safety Guidelines
If you can see lightning or her thunder, activate your safety plan. Resume activities only when lightning and thunder have not been observed for thirty minutes.
Guidelines
If an athletic trainer is not present, the head coach or his designee shall assume the responsibility of monitoring the potential for dangerous weather conditions, evaluating students and resuming activities when safe conditions are determined.
Safe areas include:
- Fully enclosed metal vehicles with windows rolled up
- Substantial and permanent buildings
Unsafe areas include:
- Nearby metallic objects like fences, gates, instrumentation and electrical equipment, wires and power poles.
- Small structures, including huts and rain shelters.
- Also, avoid trees, avoid water, avoid open fields and avoid using (hard wire telephones and headsets.
Lightning safety crouch: If hopelessly isolated from shelter during close-in lightning, adopt a low crouching position with feet together and hands on ears. Minimize contact witht he ground. Do not lie flat.
Be aware of how close lightning is occuring. Lightning awareness should be increased with the first flash of lightning or the first clap of thunder.
The flash-to-bang method is the easiest and most convenient when estimating how far lightning is occuring. The National Severe Storms Laboratory recommends the following as a minimum:
- When the monitor obtains a flash-to-bang count of 30 seconds or less, all individuals should leave the athletic site immediately and seek a safe location. To use the flash-to-bang method, count the seconds from the time the lightning is sighted to when the clap of thunder is heard.
- Wait at least 30 minutes after the last flash of lightning or sound of thunder before returning to the field and resuming activity.
When using lightning warning devices such as Skyscan:
- Delay outside activity when it is determined that lightning is within 0-3 miles.
- Return to the field and resume activity 30 minutes after the last 0-3 mile detection of lightning.
People who have been struck by lightening do not carry an electrical charge and are safe to handle, therefore, CPR is safe for the responder.
- Lightning-strike victims, who show signs of cardiac or respitory arrest, need emergency help quickly. Prompt, aggressive CPR has been highly effective for the survival of victims of lightning strikes.
- Activate the EMS system immediately. Immediate access to a telephone or cell phone is imperative.
- If possible, move the injured person to a safer location before administering CPR.
Remember:
"If you can see it (lightning), flee it: if you can hear it (thunder), clear it!"