Lightning strikes are very common this time of year and thunderstorms seem to be occurring daily. Many sporting events are interrupted by lightning, including the US Open Golf Championship. What do you know? True or False?
1. Lightning never strikes in the same place twice.
2. You can be shocked by touching someone who has been struck by lightning.
3. The 30/30 Rule is a thunderstorm safety guideline.
Lightning is the greatest natural environmental threat to outdoor athletes. There are 25 million cloud-to-ground lightning strikes in the United States annually with 100 deaths and 500 injuries, some permanent. Most injuries from lightning occur from June to September. Over 80 percent occur between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Sometimes lightning may strike the ground and spread to injure many simultaneously.
Most immediate deaths are due to cardiopulmonary arrest. Later, death may occur from organ failure. However, quick resuscitation efforts may make a difference. CPR rendered immediately at the scene has proven successful in some cases. The water around a person who has been struck by lightning is not electrically charged and so there is no danger of electrocution to those rendering assistance.
Although lightning injuries are “electrical injuries” they are not the same as high-voltage electrical injuries from power lines. Lightning tends to flash over a body, often causing superficial burns and less often resulting in deep organ injury.
Most major sporting organizations have policies regarding stopping play when lightning is seen. There is a phrase in sports medicine, “If you hear it, clear it!” Although this may be frustrating for players and spectators, safety should be the first consideration. If you hear thunder, clear the area.
There is very sophisticated technology to track thunderstorms and detect lightning. Hand-held devices are available for use at events. However, they are quite variable in their reliability. Expensive subscriber-only services supply information about lightning in very specific geographic sites. Many universities and professional sports organizations use these services.
The time between the flash of lightning and roar of thunder can be used to estimate the distance to lightning. This is the “flash-to-bang” approach. Sound travels 1 mile in 5 seconds. Therefore by counting from the flash to the bang, distance to the lightning storm can be estimated. This can also be used to determine if the storm is approaching or leaving.
The “30/30 Rule” offers a guide for storm safety. If thunder occurs within 30 seconds of lightning flash (6 miles), seek shelter. Lightning can strike from several miles away. Stay safe until 30 minutes after the last thunder roar. Then resume activity. There have been reports of strikes during clear skies from storms several miles away.
Do not be too hasty to resume an activity. Patience and a ‘safety first’ approach will be rewarded. To learn more, contact the National Weather Service at www.nws.noaa.gov.
Answers: 1. F 2. F 3. T
Independence, MO —
