AFM RSS Feed Follow Us on Twitter       
AMERICAN FOOTBALL MONTHLY THE #1 RESOURCE FOR FOOTBALL COACHES
ABOUT |  CONTACT |  ADVERTISE |  HELP  



   User Name    Password 
      Password Help





Article Categories


AFM Magazine

AFM Magazine


How to Avoid the Dangers of Lightning

by: National Athletic Training Association
© More from this issue

Click for Printer Friendly Version          

Lightning storms are among our environment's most spectacular displays. How many times have you caught yourself drawn to the window - or even outside - to watch Mother Nature's fireworks?

Opportunities are plentiful. According to the National Lightning Detection Network, 27 million cloud-to-ground lightning strikes occurred in 1997.

But disregarding the dangers of lightning is perilous. When those hazards are overlooked during a sporting event or other outdoor activity, the risks become flatly unacceptable.

The National Athletic Trainers' Association has developed a Position Statement to aid lightning safety efforts. If you are a parent, a coach, an administrator or a participant, please take note of this information.

Background

Lightning may be the most frequently encountered severe-storm hazard endangering physically active people each year. Millions of lightning flashes strike the ground annually in the United States, causing nearly 100 deaths and 400 injuries. Three-quarters of all lightning casualties occur between May and September, and nearly four-fifths occur between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., which coincides with the hours for most athletic or recreational activities. Additionally, lightning casualties from sports and recreational activities have risen alarmingly in recent decades.

Definitions

Safe shelter is any substantial, frequently inhabited building with four solid walls (not a dug-out), electrical and telephone wiring and plumbing, all of which aid in grounding a structure.

The secondary choice for a safer location from the lightning hazard is a fully enclosed vehicle with a metal roof and the windows completely closed. It is important not to touch any part of the metal framework of the vehicle while inside it during ongoing thunderstorms.

Flash-to-bang method is the preferred method of gauging the distance of an electrical event. To use the flash-to-bang method, begin counting when you see a lightning flash. Stop counting when you hear the associated "bang," or thunder. Divide this count by five to determine how many miles away the lightning struck.

For example, a flash-to-bang count of 30 seconds equates to a distance of six miles. Be aware that lightning has struck from as far away as 10 miles from the storm center. Use this axiom as a rule of thumb: "If you hear it, clear it; if you see it, flee it."

Postpone or suspend activity if a thunderstorm appears imminent before or during an event, whether or not you see lightning or hear thunder. Wait until the danger has passed before resuming activity.

Signs of an impending thunderstorm are darkening clouds, high winds and thunder or lightning.

NATA Recommendations for Lightning Safety
1.Establish a chain of command that identifies who makes the decision to remove individuals from the field.

2. Name a designated weather watcher, or person who actively looks for the signs of threatening weather and notifies the chain of command if severe weather becomes dangerous.

3. Have a means of monitoring local weather forecasts and warnings.

4. Designate a safe shelter for each venue.

5. Use the Flash-to-Bang count to determine when to seek shelter. By the time the flash-to-bang count approaches 30 seconds, all individuals should already be inside a safe structure.

6. Once activities have been suspended, wait at least 30 minutes following the last sound of thunder or the last flash of lightning before resuming an activity or returning outdoors.

7. Avoid being the highest point in an open field. Do not be in contact with or in proximity to the highest point. Do not be on the open water. Do not take shelter under or near trees, flagpoles or light poles.

8. If you feel your hair stand on end, your skin tingle or you hear crackling noises, assume the lightning safety position (crouched on the ground, weight on the balls of the feet, feet together, head lowered, ears covered). Do not lie flat on the ground.

9. Observe these basic first aid procedures in managing victims of a lightning strike:

• Survey the scene for safety.
• Activate your local EMS.
• Be aware that lightning victims do not "carry a charge" and they are safe to touch.
• If necessary, carefully move the victim to a safer location.
• Evaluate the airway, breathing and circulation. Begin CPR if necessary.
• Evaluate and treat for hypothermia, shock, fractures and/or burns.

10. All individuals have the right to leave an athletic site in order to seek a safe structure if s/he feels in danger of impending lightning activity. Such people should not be made to fear repercussions or penalty from anyone.

Learn More

The full text of "Position Statement: Lightning Safety for Athletics and Recreation" can be found in the Journal of Athletic Training, Vol. 35 #4, p. 471-477. The text also is available on-line at www.nata.org.

Condensed from Journal of Athletic Training 2000; 35(4): 471-477

"NATA Position Statement: Lightning Safety for Athletics and Recreation," by Katie M. Walsh, EdD, ATC-L; Brian Bennett, MEd, ATC; Mary Ann Cooper, MD; Ronald L. Holle, MS; Richard Kithil, MBA; Raul E. Lopez, PhD

Copyright by the National Athletic Trainers' Association, Inc.





NEW BOOK!

AFM Videos Streaming Memberships Now Available Digital Download - 304 Pages of Football Forms for the Winning Coach



















HOME
MAGAZINE
SUBSCRIBE ONLINE COLUMNISTS COACHING VIDEOS


Copyright 2024, AmericanFootballMonthly.com
All Rights Reserved