Lightning Safety Awareness Week

WHEN THUNDER ROARS...GO INDOORS

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL HOST ITS 8TH ANNUAL LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK CAMPAIGN JUNE 22-28 2008.

THE FOCUS OF THE 2008 CAMPAIGN IS RISK REDUCTION AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. THE CAMPAIGN EMPHASIZES THAT NO PLACE OUTSIDE IS SAFE WHEN LIGHTNING IS IN THE AREA.

LAST YEAR IN THE UNITED STATES AT LEAST 45 PEOPLE WERE KILLED FROM DIRECT LIGHTNING STRIKES. ON AVERAGE LIGHTNING IS RESPONSIBLE FOR 62 FATALITIES ANNUALLY. IN ADDITION HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE INJURED EACH YEAR...MANY WITH PERMANENT NERVE DAMAGE, HEARING LOSS AND OTHER SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS.

IN THE UNITED STATES LIGHTNING DEATHS AND INJURIES OCCUR MOST FREQUENTLY IN OPEN AREAS. LIGHTNING SAFETY IS CRUCIAL WHEN YOU ARE OUTDOORS...ESPECIALLY SINCE SO MANY ACTIVITIES TAKE PLACE IN OPEN AREAS LIKE ATHLETIC FIELDS...GOLF COURSES AND BEACHES. WHEN OUTDOORS...IF YOU HEAR THUNDER IMMEDIATELY SEEK SHELTER IN A FULLY ENCLOSED BUILDING WITH PLUMBING OR ELECTRICITY OR IN A HARD-TOPPED VEHICLE. THERE IS NO SAFE PLACE OUTDOORS.

PEOPLE ARE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO LIGHTNING STRIKES WHEN A STORM IS APPROACHING OR EXITING THEIR AREA. LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE MORE THAN 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM.

STATISTICS...BROCHURES...MULTIMEDIA...POSTERS AND MORE IS AVAILABLE ON THE NWS LIGHTNING SAFETY WEBSITE AT: http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/

THE SITE HAS PAGES GEARED TO THE NEEDS OF TEACHERS... CHILDREN...THOSE CONDUCTING OUTREACH EFFORTS...THE MEDIA... AND SPANISH SPEAKER. THERE IS A WEALTH OF INFORMATION ABOUT LIGHTNING SAFETY, SCIENCE AND MEDICAL CONCERNS.

LIGHTNING SAFETY TIPS:
1. KEEP AN EYE ON THE SKY. LOOK FOR DARKENING SKIES... FLASHES OF LIGHTNING...OR INCREASING WIND...WHICH MAY BE SIGNS OF AN APPROACHING THUNDERSTORM. GET TO A SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY IF A THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES. COACHES AND OTHER LEADERS SHOULD LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO DURING PRACTICE SESSIONS AND GAMES FOR THE LATEST FORECASTS AND WARNINGS.

2. POSTPONE OR HALT OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES BEFORE THE RAIN BEGINS. MANY PEOPLE TAKE SHELTER FROM THE RAIN...BUT MOST PEOPLE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING ARE NOT IN THE RAIN. GO QUICKLY TO A COMPLETELY ENCLOSED BUILDING WITH PLUMBING AND ELECTRICITY...NOT A CARPORT...OPEN GARAGE...DUGOUT OR COVERED PATIO. IF NO ENCLOSED BUILDING IS NEARBY...GET INSIDE A HARD-TOPPED ALL-METAL VEHICLE AND REMAIN THERE UNTIL 30 MINUTES AFTER THE STORM HAS PASSED.

3. PLACES TO AVOID INCLUDE TREES... SHEDS... PICNIC SHELTERS...BASEBALL/SOFTBALL DUGOUTS...BLEACHERS... BEACHES AND OPEN FIELDS. KEEP TWICE AS FAR AWAY FROM A TREE AS IT IS TALL. ALSO STAY AWAY FROM CLOTHES LINES... FENCES... EXPOSED SHEDS...AND ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE ELEVATED OBJECTS.

4. GET OUT OF THE WATER. IT IS A GREAT CONDUCTOR OF ELECTRICITY. STAY OFF THE BEACH AND OUT OF SMALL BOATS OR CANOES. IF CAUGHT IN A BOAT...CROUCH DOWN IN THE CENTER AWAY FROM METAL HARDWARE. SWIMMING...WADING AND SNORKELING ARE NOT SAFE DURING A THUNDERSTORM. LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE THE WATER AND TRAVEL SOME DISTANCE BENEATH AND AWAY FROM ITS POINT OF CONTACT. DO NOT STAND IN PUDDLES OF WATER.