NWS Pueblo - Lightning Safety and Wildfire Awareness Week

Outdoor Lightning Safety

WHEN THUNDER ROARS…GO INDOORS…

Colorado Lightning Safety Preparedness Week continues through Saturday. Yesterday we discussed the science of lightning.  Today we will cover outdoor lightning safety.

Outdoors is the most dangerous place to be during a thunderstorm.  Each year...many people in the United States are struck by lightning while working outside...at sporting events...on the beach...mountain climbing...fishing…mowing the lawn or during other outdoor activities.  In 2013...23 people in the United States were killed and many more were survivors of a lightning strike.  All of those lightning fatalities occurred outdoors.

In Colorado...since 1959 there have been 141 documented lightning fatalities and hundreds of others who were injured by lightning.   In 2013 there were no documented lightning fatalities in Colorado.  However...22 people within the state were struck by lightning while outdoors and all survived.

Many survivors of a lightning strike are left to cope with permanent disabilities.  A significant number of these tragedies can be avoided.  Finishing the game...getting a tan...or completing yard work is not worth the risk of death or a crippling injury.

Lightning occasionally strikes as far as 10 miles away from any rainfall...and has been documented to strike up to 20 miles away from the thunderstorm which generated the lightning.  Many lightning victims are struck ahead of the storm or shortly after the storm has passed.

Before venturing outdoors...

Informed decisions will help you avoid being in an area where lightning is expected to occur.  Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio...check National Weather Service web sites...or access your favorite media for the latest forecast.  

A forecast resource for western Colorado is the graphical lightning potential index which can be found on the Grand Junction National Weather Service website...weather.gov/gjt...under local information. The lightning potential index shows the lightning threat for three-hour time periods during the next 60 hours.

It is important to remember that thunderstorms typically develop in the mountains of Colorado after 11 am.  So it is best to plan your climbing or hiking trip so that you are coming down the mountain by late morning.

If thunderstorms are in the forecast...consider planning an alternate indoor activity or make plans which will allow you to quickly seek shelter.

When you are outdoors there are some things you can do to reduce your risk from lightning.  

It is critical to know where a nearby safe shelter is located if lightning threatens.  Safe shelters include a substantial building...such as a house ...a store or a church…as well as an enclosed metal-roofed vehicle such as a car...a truck or a bus.

Then watch for darkening cloud bases or rapidly growing cumulus clouds and head to safety before that first lightning flash.  There have been several incidents in Colorado when the first lightning strike of the storm has caused a casualty.  If you can hear thunder...the storm is close enough that lightning could strike your location at any moment...and you should immediately seek protection.

Once inside a substantial building or hard topped vehicle...keep all windows and doors closed… and do not touch anything inside the vehicle that is connected to an external antenna.

It is then recommended that you wait at least 30 minutes from the last rumble of thunder before returning outside.

A recent lightning safety study has shown that 95 percent of the people who were struck by lightning while outdoors had a substantial building or vehicle nearby.  Remember...there is no safe place outdoors when lightning is occurring.  Do not seek shelter under picnic shelters...dugouts ...porches...trees...carports or tents. These types of structures are not safe when lightning is occurring.

What can you do if you are outdoors and there are no safe shelters nearby...

Unfortunately...in those cases there is not much you can do to reduce your risk from lightning.  However...the best thing to do is move away from tall isolated objects...such as trees.  If camping...place your tent in a low area away from tall isolated trees.  Even so...please remember that a tent offers no protection from lightning.  If you are above treeline...get down lower and away from outcroppings.

It is very important that all sports leagues and other outdoor groups have a lightning response plan that is understood and consistently applied for the safety of the participants. Part of the plan would include a designated weather watcher at each outdoor event with the authority to postpone or cancel the event due to the threat of lightning. It is also important that people know where to seek safe shelter if a storm threatens.
    
While seeking shelter from lightning...

Avoid metal...since metal objects are good conductors of electricity. Do not hold on to fishing rods...golf clubs...tennis rackets or metal tools during a thunderstorm.  Drop metal framed backpacks.  Stay away from clothes lines…fences and metal sheds.

Get out of the water...since water is a great conductor of electricity.  Stay off the beach and out of small boats if lightning threatens.  

If someone is struck by lightning...call 9-1-1 or your local ambulance service. Give first aid as quickly as possible.  If the victim has stopped breathing...begin rescue breathing. If the heart has stopped beating...a trained person should administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation.  If the person has a pulse and is breathing...address any other injuries.  People struck by lightning do not carry an electrical charge...and can be examined without risk.

Remember...when thunder roars…quickly get indoors!

The lightning topic for tomorrow will be on safe shelters and indoor lightning safety.

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