Lightning Safety Tips

Lightning kills more people each year than tornadoes and hurricanes combined, making it the second most frequent weather-related killer in the United States.

1.  No place outside is safe near thunderstorms!

2.  Use the ‘30-30 rule’!

• If the time between lightning and thunder is 30 seconds or less, seek proper shelter

• If the lightning can’t be seen, just hearing thunder means the thunderstorm is close enough to be dangerous

• Wait 30 minutes or more before leaving proper shelter

3.  The best shelter from lightning is a typical house, or other fully enclosed substantially constructed building with plumbing and wiring.

• Stay away from corded telephones, plumbing, electrical appliances, wires, TV cables, metal doors or window frames, or any electrical conducting path leading outside.

• Don’t stand near a window to watch the lightning.  An inside room is best.

4.  A vehicle with a solid metal roof and metal sides is the second best shelter from lightning.  As in a house, don’t touch any conducting paths leading outside.  It is the metal shell that protects you, Not the rubber tires.

• But wind up the windows, and don’t touch any conducting path leading outside

• Convertibles, motorcycles, bicycles, and cars with plastic or fiberglass roofs and sides offer no lightning protection.

5.  The top five activities for lightning casualties are:

1. Open fields

2. Water related activities (swimming, boating, fishing, etc.)

3. Under trees (or other tall isolated object)

4. Open vehicles

5. Golfing

• When thunderstorms threaten, avoid these activities like your life depends on it–it does!

 6.  The activity with the fastest rising lightning casualty rate is outdoor sports!

• Coaches, referees, parents, and children PLEASE have a lightning safety plan!

7.  Open picnic pavilions and rain shelters offer absolutely No protection from lightning!

8.  When outside, appoint someone to be the lightning monitor.  Their job is to use the ‘30-30 Rule’, weather radio, radio / TV, and observe the weather, to tell the group when to seek shelter.

9.  Lightning First-Aid:

• All lightning deaths are from stopped heart / breathing.  CPR is the recommended first aid.

• Even if a lightning survivor seems okay after the strike, they should still go to the hospital to check for heart / lung problems which could cause death hours later

• It is perfectly safe to touch a lightning victim to give them first aid.