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Severe spring and summer storms bring tornadoes, flooding and lightning to
many states across the country. Michael Brownley, head of our Traffic and
Off-Duty Safety Division, wants you to be prepared in the event of a
storm, and especially the lightning that often accompanies it. He offers
some important safety tips to consider:
- Keep an eye on the sky. Look for darkening skies, flashes of light,
or increasing wind. Listen for the sound of thunder. If you hear thunder,
you are close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning.
- Listen to NOAA Weather Radio, The Weather Channel or local
television news for the latest forecast.
- Find shelter on the lowest floor of a sturdy building when a storm
approaches. If you cannot get inside a shelter, squat low near the ground
in an open area. Lying flat on the ground is not recommended, because it
puts more of your body into contact with the ground, which is an excellent
conductor of electricity from lightning.
- Turn off air conditioning. Power surges from lightning can overload
the compressor, resulting in a costly repair job.
- Draw blinds and shades over windows. If windows break because of
objects blown by the wind, the shades may prevent glass from shattering
into your home.
- If you are in a mobile home or car during severe weather and
conditions are right for a tornado, get out and find sturdy shelter
elsewhere.
- People struck by lightning carry no electrical charge and can be
handled safely. If someone is struck, call 911 or your local emergency
services number. The injured person has received an electrical shock and
may be burned. If the victim stops breathing, begin rescue breathing. If
the heart has stopped beating, give CPR.
Severe storms can happen quickly and sometimes without warning. We urge
you to have a plan of action for severe storms now, while you have time to
prepare. If you have never taken a CPR course, do so now. Have a supply of
bottled water and dried or canned goods on hand in case of a power outage.
Make sure you have a fresh supply of flashlight batteries
For more information on preparing for severe storms, tornadoes and
other disasters, or to find out about CPR class schedules, contact your
local American Red Cross chapter. |
