# Presentation: 499476

## Lightning SafetyFor Kids

**Unclassified**

***Lightning Safety******For Kids***

**Mr. William P. Roeder****Chief Staff Meteorologist****45th Weather Squadron**

_*United States Version*_*                 (10 June 01)*

**Notes:**
Introduce yourself and your topic.
Cite 45 WS as Air Force unit providing weather support to the space program at Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center.

## Purpose

**Teach Lightning Safety**

**Notes:**
I’m here to teach you about lightning safety.

## Overview

**Notes:**
In this briefing, I’ll establish that lightning is a significant hazard.

Show that Florida is especially at risk.

Then discuss how to protect yourself against lightning.

Public education is the key.  We still have too many events like this going on {indicate the picture of kids}.  This was in Sequoia National Park in CA.  A family is out for a day hike on the mountain, and something unusual starts happening.  Their hair is stick up!  This is neat; this is cool; look at their happy smiling faces; parents on this side of the camera taking a picture.  Three seconds later, lightning struck.  If this were to happen to me, I wouldn’t be smiling, I’d be needing a new pair of pants!   :-)

## Lightning -- Significant Hazard

**Notes:**
Lightning is the underrated weather hazard.  It kills more than hurricanes and tornadoes combined in the United States.

But the real story of lightning safety isn’t the deaths, it’s the injuries.  Only about 10% of those who are struck by lightning are killed.  But many of those struck suffer life-long severe injury,and often the injuries are so severe they’re debilitated, they can’t work anymore.

(Skip Economic Impact Verbally, Due To Time Constraints) 

Despite these huge impacts, lightning safety has received surprisingly little attention.

Back-Up Info (don’t raise during briefing, use only if questioned):  You sometimes see different figures reported for lightning deaths and injuries.  There have been many different studies, which explains some of the differences.  But the biggest difference is the fuzziness in the data due toknown under-reporting, especially of injuries.  Sometimes the raw figures are reported, sometimes figures corrected for the under-counts are reported.  The figures here are my best estimate of the true corrected figures based on review of the literature.  The best experts in the field agree these figures are reasonable.

## Florida Lightning Threat

**Notes:**
This biggest threat from lightning is in the Southeast and Midwest parts of the U.S.  But no place is completely safe from lightning.  Even places with the lowest lightning activity have had lightning casualties.

## Lightning Impacts (con’t.)

***Lightning Impacts ****(con’t.)*

## Lightning Safety Procedures

**  ****Lightning Safety Group****   Recommendations**

**Notes:**
We’ve seen that lightning is a significant hazard.  But what do you do about it?

The rest of this briefing will cover how to protect yourself from lightning. 

## Lightning Safety Procedures (con’t.)

***Lightning Safety Procedures ****(con’t.)*

**Notes:**
The most important point is to adopt the attitude that no place, and I mean no place, is safe near a thunderstorm.  And by ‘near’, I mean several miles.

## Lightning Safety Procedures (con’t.)

**  ****If You Can Hear Thunder, Seek Shelter!**

***Lightning Safety Procedures ****(con’t.)*

**Notes:**
Lightning can strike very long distances away from the thunderstorm, easily several miles outside the rain.  If you can hear thunder, then the thunderstorm is close enough to be a danger.  Seek proper shelter.

Repeat it along with me, ‘If You Can Hear Thunder, Seek Shelter!’.  Oh you can do better than that, let’s try it again, ‘If You Can Hear Thunder, Seek Shelter!’.  That’s better, but let’s do it even louder, ‘If You Can Hear Thunder, Seek Shelter!’.  That’s more like it!

## Lightning Safety Procedures (con’t.)

**  ****Buildings Much****   Better Than Vehicles**
**  ****Large, Fully Enclosed,****   Substantially Built**
**  ****Vehicles Offer****   Some Safety**
**  ****No Place Outside****   Is Safe Near A****   Thunderstorm**
**  ****Near ******** 6 Miles****   **

***Lightning Safety Procedures ****(con’t.)*

**Notes:**
We talked about going to proper lightning shelters, but what is a proper lightning shelter?  Of the places most commonly available, a large fully enclosed substantially constructed building is your best bet, such as your typical house or school.  By substantially constructed, we mean it needs a lot of wiring and plumbing in the walls.

If a building isn’t available,a vehicle with a metal roof and metal sides is a reasonable second choice.  Notice how I emphasize it’s the metal shell that protects you, not the rubber tires insulating you from the ground -- that’s a myth that just won’t die!  The vehicle has to have a solid metal roof and sides to protect you from lightning.

## Lightning Safety Procedures (con’t.)

**  ****Telephone (corded)**
**  ****Electrical Appliances / Wiring**
**  ****TVs, VCRs, And TV Cables**
**  ****Computers**
**  ****Light Switches**
**  ****Electrical Outlets**
**  ****Plumbing**
**  ****Showers**
**  ****Sinks**
**  ****Rest Rooms**
**  ****Pools (indoors too)**
**  ****Don’t Watch Lightning****   From Windows / Doorways**
**  ****Indoor Rooms Are Better**

***Lightning Safety Procedures ****(con’t.)*

**Notes:**
Once inside your proper shelter, avoid contact with any conducting path leading outside.  That means:

	-  Don’t use the telephone

	-  Stay away from electrical appliances

Here’s one that’s not so obvious:

	-  Keep away from plumbing.	   Metal pipes, or plastic pipes	   with water in them are conductors.	   This includes swimming pools,	   including indoor pools

For larger buildings, like schools, inner rooms are better.

## Lightning Safety Procedures (con’t.)

**  ****High Places / Open Fields**
**  ****Isolated Trees**
**  ****Towers / Poles****   (Light Poles, Flag Poles,****    Telephone Poles, Etc.)**
**  ****Unprotected Pavilions,****   Rain / Picnic Shelters**
**  ****Baseball Dugouts**
**  ****Convertible Cars**
**  ****Golf Carts**
**  ****Water (Swimming Pool, Ocean, Lake, Rivers, Etc.)**
**  **_**Indoor**_** / Outdoor Pools**
**  ****Bleachers (Metal Or Wood)**
**  ****Metal Fences / Structures**

***Lightning Safety Procedures ****(con’t.)*

**Notes:**
In addition to knowing the best shelter from lightning, you should also know what locations are most dangerous so you can avoid them if lightning may be a threat.  Much of this is common sense.  Avoid high places (not that we have many here in Florida).  Avoid isolated tall objects like trees, poles, etc.  Here’s one that’s not so obvious.  These open pavilions and rain shelters such as at public parks and golf courses offer nothing in the way of lightning protection.  Indeed there are those who argue that they’re more dangerous than being in the open.  If you’re out picnicking with your friends and families and it starts thunderstorming, you are much smarter going to your cars in the parking lot than going under the pavilions to get out of the rain.  And of course swimming with lightning in the area is just flat-out foolish.  Note that indoor pools are a hazard too.  The worst possible combination would be a tall isolated metal structure in a wide open area -- around here, we call them launch pads!   :-)

## Lightning Impacts (con’t.)

***Lightning Impacts ****(con’t.)*

**Notes:**
Another way to look at it is to avoid the activities that have the most lightning casualties associated.  Casualties means both deaths and injuries combined.

When thunderstorms are going to be nearby, you should avoid these activities like your life depends on it -- it does!

And I’d like to talk about trees in particular.  In this day and age, it just boggles my mind that many people are still going underneath trees to keep dry during thunderstorms.  They’re just making lightning targets of themselves!  In the U.S., it’s the #2 cause of lightning casualties!  Show of hands, who here has heard don’t go under trees in a thunderstorm.  Of course, everybody has.  But people are still doing it; it’s just too inconvenient being wet.  I have two words for people who still do this, “Stop It!”  If you continue, I have some other words of wisdom from a recent popular TV show, “you are the weakest link, goodbye!”.

## Lightning Safety Procedures (con’t.)

**  ****Avoid Wide Open Areas**
**  ****Sports Fields**
**  ****Playgrounds**
**  ****Parking Lots**
**  ****Beaches**
**  ****Others**

***If You Can Hear Thunder, Seek Shelter!***

**Notes:**
Remember, open areas are the #1 place for lightning casualties.  That includes sports fields and playgrounds.  And don’t forget about parking lots.  Beaches are a bad place for lightning safety.

## Lightning Safety Procedures (con’t.)

***Lightning Safety Procedures ****(con’t.)*

**  ****Avoid Water Activities**
**  ****Swimming**
**  ****Boating**
**  ****Beaches**
**  ****Doubly Dangerous!**
**  ****Fishing**
**  ****Others**

***If You Can Hear Thunder, Seek Shelter!***

**Notes:**
The #2 activity for lightning casualties deals with water:  swimming, boating, and fishing.  If you’re in a swimming pool and lightning strikes nearby, even all the way over at the other end of the pool, everybody in the water will be electrocuted.

Beaches are especially dangerous.  They combine the #1 place, open areas, and the #2 activity, water related.  Beaches really scare me during lightning storms.  Get off the beach early, if thunderstorms are approaching.

## Lightning Safety Procedures (con’t.)

***Lightning Safety Procedures ****(con’t.)*

**  ****Avoid Trees!**
**  ****Do **_**NOT**_** Go Under Trees To Keep Dry!**

***If You Can Hear Thunder, Seek Shelter!***

**Notes:**
Do NOT go underneath a tree to keep dry in a thunderstorm!  Lightning is very likely to hit a tree, especially if it’s standing alone all by itself.  There are several reasons why you should stay away from trees, when thunderstorms are nearby.

## Slide 17

**Notes:**
One good reason to stay away from trees is that if lightning hits the tree, it might literally jump out of the tree and into you!  Remember, lightning is electricity and will always follow the path of least resistance.  Now you are a better conductor than a tree, so lightning might jump out of the tree at you.

‘Ring of dead cows’ are famous in lightning history.  Cows like to keep dry during thunderstorms, and just like stupid humans, they go underneath trees.  Then lightning hits the tree, and the cows get fried.  Then later on, the cowboy shows up for Bar-B-Q!   :-)

## Slide 18

**Notes:**
Another good reason to stay away from trees is that sometimes the lightning will cause the tree to literally explode!  It may not be lightning that got you, but it’s still 2-foot splinters going 200 miles per hour, and those can still cause injury and death, even if lightning itself didn’t hit you.

## Slide 19

**Notes:**
When lightning hits the ground, even when coming down along on a tree, it usually “splashes” out along the ground.  These splashes of electricity can be deadly over a hundred feet from where lightning struck.  So if you’re just near a tree, not even under the tree, you’re still in danger.

## Slide 20

**Notes:**
Just before lightning forms, there’s a tiny split second of huge 30 yard sparks reaching up out of the ground.  These huge sparks tend to form wherever lightning is trying to strike, such as trees, and wherever you have tall pointy conducting objects -- the human body!  So if you’re standing near a tree and lightning is trying to strike, you could be what causes a 30 yard spark to form right here you are!  Now, during the winter, when you walk on a rug and you touch a door knob and you get a little electric spark, that spark hurts a little.  But that spark is only an eighth of an inch long.  Now imagine being inside a 30 yard spark -- that’s a spark that goes from one of these walls to the other wall! {or other appropriate example of 30 yards}  

## Lightning Safety Procedures (con’t.)

**  ****First Aid For Lightning**
**  ****Call 911**
**  ****Apply CPR / Mouth To Mouth Resuscitation **
**  ****All Deaths From Stopped Heart / Stopped Breathing**

***Lightning Safety Procedures ****(con’t.)*

**Notes:**
Now going inside when you hear thunder will protect you against most of the lightning.  But not everyone obeys this rule, so we need to learn lightning first-aid, to help these other people.

First of all, call 9-1-1 to get professional help.

All lightning deaths are due to stopped heart or arrested breathing.  C-P-R and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is the recommended first aid.

## Lightning Safety Procedures (con’t.)

**  ****MYTH:  Lightning Is Death Ray From the Sky**
**  ****Only ~ 10% Killed**
**  **_**MYTH**_**!****:  Lightning Victim Is Electrified -- Don’t Touch,****	****            Or Be Electrocuted**
**  ****It **_**Is**_** Safe To Apply First-Aid!**
**  ****High Chance Of Success!**
**  ****But Beware Downed Live Wires In Thunderstorms;****   Touching Victim Then Is Dangerous**

**  ****MYTH:  Lightning Is Disintegrater Ray****	****           From The Sky**

**  ****First-Aid For Lightning Victims ***(con’t.)*

***Lightning Safety Procedures ****(con’t.)*

**Notes:**
There are a lot of myths out there about lightning first aid.

First, some people think lightning is a disintegrator ray coming out of the sky.  All that’s going to be left is a charcoaled corpse or a pile of carbon dust.  No, that doesn’t happen! {Hit ‘ENTER’ to bring up animation}.  I think maybe they’ve been watching too many ‘Roadrunner - Coyote’ cartoons!

Some people also think lightning is a death ray coming down out of the sky.  No!  We’ve already seen that only about 10% of people hit by lightning are killed -- 90% survive.

Which leads us to the third and most important myth about lightning first aid.  This myth is fading away, but some people still believe a lightning victim is electrified.  I want to touch them to give first aid, but I’ll be electrocuted.  No, wrong, false, incorrect! -- it is perfectly safe to touch a lightning victim.  If you hear someone say that, please politely correct them.  What a terrible tragedy if someone was to die needlessly, for want of simple CPR, because of this myth!

## Summary

**Notes:**
In summary, lightning is an extremely significant hazard, especially in FL, but is far far too often underrated.

Use the Lightning Safety Group guidelines for personal lightning safety when outside the 45 SW / KSC plans.

Bottom-Line:  the vast majority of lightning casualties is so easily, quickly, and cheaply prevented, if people just knew what to do.  ‘Go inside’, come on, how  tough is that? 

## If You Can Hear Thunder,Seek Shelter!

**If You Can Hear Thunder,****Seek Shelter!**

**Notes:**
A quick review.  If you can hear thunder, you should seek shelter.  Go inside a house.  Keep away from the phone, plumbing, or electrical appliances.  Don’t watch the lightning from a window or doorway.  If you can’t get to a house, a car with a metal roof is a good 2nd choice.  And PLESE, keep away from those trees!

Let’s practice that phrase one more time, say it along with me ‘If You Can Hear Thunder, Seek Shelter’.  Okay, let’s go -- ‘If You Can Hear Thunder, Seek Shelter’.  {Repeat as desired}

##  If You Can Hear Thunder, Seek Shelter! 

***Lightning Safety***

** **_**If You Can Hear Thunder, Seek Shelter!**_** **

**Notes:**
Unless there are any questions, this concludes the briefing.
More information on lighting safety is at the 45 WS website.  

Any questions?

{At end of questions, hit ‘RETURN’ Key}  Remember, ‘If You Can Hear Thunder, Seek Shelter’.

Thank you!