Lightning Safety
For Scouts
Purpose
Lightning Safety Training and Education is a must…
Overview
• LIGHTNING IS A SIGNIFICANT HAZARD !!!
• Scouting Lightning Hazards are real…
• LIGHTNING SAFETY GROUP RECOMMENDATIONS
• CALL TO ACTION
More Education
is
Needed for our
Leaders and
our Scouts
Lightning -- Significant Hazards
• LIGHTNING: Is the Underrated Killer
• #2 Storm Killer In U.S.
• More Than Tornadoes and
Hurricanes Combined
• Life-Long Debilitating Injury
On Many More Than It Kills
• Kills ~73 individuals / Year and
Injures over 1,000 / Year In U.S.
• $5 Billion Economic Impact
Each Year In U.S.
• Yet Lightning Safety Receives
Surprisingly Little Attention!
Scouting Lightning Hazards
Camping Activities can put Scouts at Risk!
Radio and Radio Equipment
(1%)
Open Fields
Trees & Fences
(Includes Fields in Campsites & Sports Fields)
(2%)
(45%)
Telephone
(4%)
Farm and
Heavy Equipment
Under Trees
(5%)
Golf
Water
(Swimming,
boating,
fishing)
(14%)
(23%)
(6%)
Lightning Casualties In U.S. (1959-2005)
(National Severe Storms Laboratory)
Scouting Lightning Hazards
Scouting Activities can put Scouts at Risk!
• Open Fields (45%)
• Sports Fields
• Campgrounds
• Outdoor Activities
• Water Sports Activities
• Other Concerns:
• Metal Bleachers!
• Long Metal Fences!
• Power Lines
Scouting Lightning Hazards
Under Trees (23%) of Lightning Strikes
occur at an Outdoor Activity
Scouting Lightning Hazards
• Water Related (14%)
• Swimming
• Indoor Pools Too!
• Boating
Scouting Lightning Hazards
Scouting Activities can put Scouts At Risk!
• Golf (6%)
• Hiking in Patrols
• Heavy Equipment (5%)
• Grounds Keepers
• Telephone (4%)
Everyone!
Scouting Lightning Hazards
Scouting Activities Can Put Scouts at Risk!
Scouts have to be aware of Rising Lightning Casualty Rates
Education is key to survival and response…
Don’t “Tough It Out”!
NO!
•Do
• Postpone Or Cancel Event
• Prevent Scout Lives and LifeLong Crippling Injuries
Being Safe is:
More Important Than A Game!
Scouting Lightning Hazards
• The Highest Lightning Rate is in the U.S. is the
South East Region and Mid-West Region
• But All places have some Lightning Risk!
Recommendations
THERE ARE MANY LIGHTNING SAFETY GROUPS
TO GATHER CRITICAL INFORMATION
• 16 Lightning Experts From Diverse Disciplines
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
National Labs
Universities
Operational Meteorology
Medicine
Industry
Safety
Insurance
Education
Athletics
Our primary GOAL is: To provide consistent and correct information
about Lightning Safety Guidelines through education and training
programs
Recommendations (con’t.)
Follow Safety Guidelines
1. Safer And Unsafe Locations
(Develop signage and post on Certified
Safe Buildings…)
2. Train Individuals
•
Train Small Groups
•
Train Large Groups
4. Follow specific action training
components provided. Take the
Lightning Safety Course; (age
appropriate) and complete the Lightning
Safety Quiz Upon completion a
Certification Card will be presented”
5. Learn First Aid For Lightning
Victims
Recommendations (con’t.)
People Don’t Realize the Long Distances Lightning Can Strike
 Lightning Strikes an average of 3 Nautical Miles (NM) in Distance
 A ‘Bolt From the Blue’ ~ up to 15 NM- “this is not uncommon”
 Ground Strikes ~ up to 60 NM-have been documented from Anvil
(this is a Rare Distance)
 People Don’t Realize the Length of Time Lightning Can Strike
Debris Cloud has documented that a Ground Strike has occurred 75 minutes after
the Thunderstorm has decayed …
Recommendations (con’t.)
Recommendations (con’t.)
Important Points
30
30
• Use ‘30-30 Rule’ To Determine If Lightning Is A Threat
• If 30 Secs Or Less “Flash To Bang”, Seek Proper Shelter
• Back-Up Rule (if you can’t see the lightning):
If You Can Hear Thunder, Seek Proper Shelter
• Wait 30 Min Or More After Last Thunder,
Before Leaving Proper Shelter
• Most Casualties Occur Before, and especially After,
Thunderstorms
• 30-30 Rule May Seem Too Conservative -- It’s Not!
Recommendations (con’t.)
Some Important Points For Scouters
30
30
 Use Lightning Notification Services when appropriate.
 Check the weather while planning your trip, “Be Prepared”.
 Use National Lightning Detection Network Data
 Use Automatic Notification Systems when Lightning is within various
distances of an Event Site / Time
 Units are encouraged to purchase small weather radios and monitor the
weather as best as you can- stay informed. Listen to the Weather Station on
your Weather Radio)
 Have a Notification System in place when ‘All Clear’
 Need To Watch The Skies And React Appropriately
Recommendations (con’t.)
10
Relative Lightning Protection
9
8
Lightning Certified
Facilities
Lightning Protected Buildings
7
Seek Proper Shelter
6
 Buildings are much
better than vehicles
5
 Vehicles Offer
Some Safety
4
3
2
1
0
Outdoors
 No Place Outside is
Safe – Know the
safety position and
stay away from tall
trees
Recommendations (con’t.)
Once in Proper Shelter Avoid
Conducting Paths to:
 Outside Telephones (corded)
 Electrical Appliances / (unshielded wiring)
 TVs, VCRs, And TV Cables
 Computers
 Light Switches
 Electrical Outlets
 Plumbing: showers, sinks, restrooms
 Pools (indoor and outdoor)
 Don’t Watch Lightning from Windows / Doorways
 Inner Rooms Are Better
Recommendations (con’t.)
Recommendations (con’t.)
Some Important Pointers For Scouters
First Aid For Lightning
Call 91
Apply CPR / Mouth To Mouth Resuscitation
All Deaths From Cardiac Arrest / Stopped Breathing
Myth:
 Lightning Victim Can Electrocute You
 90% Survive -- Give The First Aid
 Beware Downed Live Wires!
Courtesy of National Lightning Safety Institute
NNJC is concerned for all Scouters
1)
Every unit is requested to implement a Lightning Safety
Plan and use the training provided.
•
The primary Goal is to Protect Scouts and Staff
2) Continuing Education & Training Program is a must.
•
Teach Your Scouts And Staff How to help protect
themselves outdoors and Outside of Scouting
3) Scout Education programs have been developed to ensure
your safety.
•
•
Help Your Community Protect Itself
Generate Support For Scouting by being safe and
knowledgeable in a lightning storm.
NNJC is concerned for all Scouters
 Involve everyone; Scouting Professionals, Scout Leaders and
Senior Scouts need to be involved training
 Integrate and Implement a Lightning Safety Plan which is age
appropriate, dynamic and entertaining
 Have Support Materials “Prepared” (Brochures and magnets)
samples are available and ready for Distribution
 Publish “A Guide to Lightning Safety Resource Manual”, are
your Scouts prepared?
 Take the Lightning safety Quiz and Get Lightning Safety
Certified”
 The online quiz will have a direct link to submit your completion
and a training card will be sent to you.
Summary
 Lightning is an Extremely Significant Hazard
 Far Too Often Underrated
 Lightning Safety Education can Help Scouts
improve their Lightning Safety skills…
 All Scouters must Play A Vital Role!
 Implement a Lightning Safety Plan
 Educate everyone on Lightning Safety
 Bring Lighting Safety to the Public
 Education is Key to saving a Life…
Lightning Safety
Questions?
Want To Do Lightning Safety?
Send requests to
Daniel E. Stryker
dan@gainsllc.com
(201 247-0277)