LightningThe
Underrated Killer
Lightning—The Underrated
Killer
In the United States, there are an estimated 25 million cloud-to-ground
lightning flashes each year. Lightning can be fascinating
to watch, but it is also extremely dangerous. During the past
30 years, lightning killed an average of 67 people per year
in the United States based on documented cases. This is more
than the average of 65 deaths per year caused by tornadoes
and the average of 16 deaths per year caused by hurricanes.
However, because lightning usually claims only one or two
victims at a time, and because lightning does not cause the
mass destruction left in the wake of tornadoes or hurricanes,
lightning generally receives much less attention than the
more destructive weather-related killers. While documented
lightning injuries in the United States average about 300
per year, undocumented injuries caused by lightning are likely
much higher.
Lightning Safety Awareness:
Education is Key
Few people really understand the dangers of lightning. Many
people don't act promptly to protect their lives, property
and the lives of others because they don't understand all
the dangers associated with thunderstorms and lightning. The
first step in solving this problem is to educate people so
that they become aware of the behavior that puts them at risk
of being struck by lightning, and to let them know what they
can do to reduce that risk. Coaches and other adults who make
decisions affecting the safety of children must understand
the dangers of lightning.
Watch for Developing Thunderstorms
Thunderstorms are most likely to develop on warm summer days
and go through various stages of growth, development and dissipation.
On a sunny day, as the sun heats the air, pockets of warmer
air start to rise in the atmosphere. When this air reaches
a certain level in the atmosphere, cumulus clouds start to
form. Continued heating can cause these clouds to grow vertically
upward in the atmosphere into "towering cumulus" clouds. These
towering cumulus may be one of the first indications of a
developing thunderstorm.
The Lightning Discharge:
Don't Be a Part of It
During a thunderstorm, each flash of cloud-to-ground lightning
is a potential killer. The determining factor on whether a
particular flash could be deadly depends on whether a person
is in the path of the lightning discharge. In addition to
the visible flash that travels through the air, the current
associated with the lightning discharge travels along the
ground. Although some victims are struck directly by the main
lightning stroke, many victims are struck as the current
moves in and along the ground. While virtually all people
take some protective actions during the most dangerous part
of thunderstorms, many leave themselves vulnerable to being
struck by lightning as thunderstorms approach, depart, or
are nearby.
An Approaching Thunderstorm:
When to Seek Safe Shelter
Lightning can strike as far as 10 miles away from the rain
area in a thunderstorm. That's about the distance you can
hear thunder. When a storm is 10 miles away, it may even be
difficult to tell a storm is coming.
IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER, YOU ARE WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE.
SEEK SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY!
The first stroke of lightning is just as deadly as the last.
If the sky looks threatening, take shelter before hearing
thunder.
The 30-30 Rule
Use the 30-30 rule where visibilty is good and there is nothing
obstructing your view of the thunderstorm. When you see lightning,
count the time until you hear thunder. If that time is 30
seconds or less, the thunderstorm is within 6 miles of you
and is dangerous. Seek shelter immediately. The threat of
lightning continues for much longer period than most people
realize. Wait at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder
before leaving shelter. Don't be fooled by sunshine or blue
sky!
If it is cloudy or objects are obscuring your vision, get inside immediately. It is always safer to take precautions than to wait.
Outdoor Activities: Minimize
the Risk of Being Struck
Most lightning deaths and injuries in the United States occur
during the summer months when the combination of lightning
and outdoor summertime activities reaches a peak. During the
summer, people take advantage of the warm weather to enjoy
a multitude of outdoor recreational activities. Unfortunately,
those outdoor recreational activities can put them at greater
risk of being struck by lightning. People involved in activities
such as boating, swimming, fishing, bicycling, golfing, jogging,
walking, hiking, camping, or working out of doors all need
to take the appropriate actions in a timely manner when thunderstorms
approach. Where organized sports activities take place, coaches,
umpires, referees, or camp counselors must protect the safety
of the participants by stopping the activities sooner, so
that the participants and spectators can get to a safe place
before the lightning threat becomes significant. To reduce
the threat of death or injury, those in charge of organized
outdoor activities should develop and follow to a plan to
keep participants and spectators safe from lightning.
Indoor Activities: Things
to Avoid
Inside homes, people must also avoid activities which put
their lives at risk from a possible lightning strike. As with
the outdoor activities, these activities should be avoided
before, during, and after storms. In particular, people should
stay away from windows and doors and avoid contact with anything
that conducts electricity. People may also want to take certain
actions well before the storm to protect property within their
homes, such as electronic equipment.
Helping a Lightning Strike
Victim
If a person is struck by lightning, medical care may be needed
immediately to save the person's life. Cardiac arrest and
irregularities, burns, and nerve damage are common in cases
where people are struck by lightning. However, with proper
treatment, including CPR if necessary, most victims survive
a lightning strike, although the long-term effects on their
lives and the lives of family members can be devastating.
Summary
Lightning is a dangerous threat to people in the United States,
particularly those outside in the summer. With common sense,
we can greatly reduce the number of lightning deaths. When
thunderstorms threaten, get to a safe place, stay there longer
than you think you need to, stay away from windows and doors
and avoid contact with anything that conducts electricity.
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