When Lightning Strikes:Preparing for Severe

Weather During Major Events

Presented by:

Darcie Christensen, DPT, ATC

Saint Elizabeth Sports & Physical TherapyThe Physician Network

575 S. 70th Street, Suite 300 (402) 219-74985000 N. 26th Street, Suite 400 (402) 742-8410

1230 Aries Drive, Suite D (402) 434-58952510 S. 40th Street (402) 486-3333

Goals and Objectives

1. Review the NATA Position Statement: Lightning Safety for Athletics and Recreation.

2. Identify the key components of Emergency Action Plans (EAP’s) necessary to ensure participant and spectator safety during severe weather.

3. Review the National Weather System/ Emergency Alert System Classifications.

Supporting Documents

http://www.nata.org/sites/default/files/2013_lightning-position-statement.pdf

http://www.csm-institute.com/NOAA_-_Large_Venues.pdf

NATA POSITION STATEMENT

Released in 2013 Goal: To provide

information specific to lightning safety, prevention and treatment for certified athletic trainers and those involved with athletics and recreation.

En- “Lightening” Information Most dangerous and frequently encountered

thunderstorm hazard encountered each year. In the United States:

Average of 42 fatalities annually during the last decadeGreatest number in JulyMost casualties occur between 10:00 AM and 7:00 PM

2010-201148% of lightning deaths attributed to sports.62% of lightning deaths attributed to recreation.

2014 (to date)6 lightning fatalities (3 associated with

sports/recreation) (NOAA. www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov)

Worldwide 24,000 deaths annually 240,000 injuries annually

NOAA Statisticshttp://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/resources/RecentLightningDeaths.pdf

Lightning Fatalities by Activity

Lightning Fatalities by Sport

Cloud to Ground Lightning Strikes

25 million lightening strikes annually.

Areas of greatest activity:→ Florida→ Gulf States→ Front Range of

Rocky Mountains→ Ohio and

Mississippi River Valleys

Cloud to Ground Lightning Strikes

Product of build-up of (+) and (-) charged regions in cloud. Lightning Flash typically originates in negative charged region

of the cloud. Moves in series of stepped leaders toward ground. Objects on ground create positive charged leaders that rise to

meet the descending leader. Connection of two determines the point of termination on the

ground. Thunder is the result of the rapid heating of the air and rapid

expansion of the air surrounding the lightning bolt

Lightning Channel 1-inch in diameter 3-5 miles long

Average 30,000 amps 50 million to 500

million volts

Recommendations from NATA Position Statement

8 Subject Areas1. Establish a Lightning Specific Emergency Action Plan2. Lightning and General Awareness3. Identify Locations Safe from Lightning4. Identify Locations Unsafe from Lightning5. Criteria for Postponement and Resumption of

Activities6. Large Venue Planning7. First Aid8. Personal Safety and Notification of Participants of

Lightning Danger

25 Individual Recommendations

NATA Recommendation 1- Establish a Lightning-Specific

EAP EAP should include the following

1. Promote lightning-safety slogans supported by the National Weather Service.

2. Establish a chain of command identifying a specific person who is to make the decision to remove individuals from field or activity

This person must have the unchallengeable authority to suspend activity.

3. Use a reliable means of monitoring the weather.4. Identify safe locations from lightning hazard in

advance of the event for each venue.5. Identify specific criteria for suspending and

resuming activity in the EAP.

Lightning Slogans

“NO place outside is safe when thunderstorms are in the area!”

“When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!”

“Half An Hour Since Thunder Roars, Now It’s Safe To Go Outdoors!”

NATA Recommendation 2-Lightning and General

Awareness1. Use a designated weather watcher and the National Weather Service to monitor local weather.

This person is charged with notifying the Chain of Command.

2. Consider subscribing to a commercial, real-time lightning detection service.

NATA Recommendation 3

Identify Locations Safe from Lightning

NATA Recommendation 4Identify Locations Unsafe from

Lightning

1. For each venue identify substantial, fully enclosed buildings to serve as a safe place from lightning.

Identify before the event. Ensure access during the

activity.2. Fully enclosed metal

vehicles such as school buses, cars and vans are also safe.

1. Places termed as “shelters” “Picnic,” “Sun,” “Rain”

2. Locations with open areas Tents, dugouts, gazebos,

press boxes, open garages.3. Tall objects and bodies of

water. Trees, poles, towers Swimming Pools

4. Inside with proximity to plumbing or wiring

Showers, sinks, indoor pools, appliances or other electronics

NATA Recommendation 5-Criteria for Postponement and

Resumption of Activities1. Postpone or suspend if thunderstorm appears

imminent before or during activity.2. All individuals must be completely within an

identified safe location when thunderstorms are producing lightning and approaching the location and the leading edge of the storm is within 6 miles.

3. Allow time for individuals to evacuate the premises and be completely within the designated safe locations.

4. Suspend activities until 30 minutes after the last strike of lightning is seen (or at least 6 miles away).

30 minute clock restarts for each lightning flash within 6 miles and each time thunder is heard.

How Far Is It?Ways to determine distance of the storm from the venue.

Commercial devices Hand-Held

SkyScan Lightning Detection SystemsThor Guard

Smartphone/mobile devices DTN/MeteorlogixiStrike

**This is not an exhaustive list and is intended to be used only as examples of the technologies

that are available**

How Far Is It?If all else fails…

Flash-to-BangCount the seconds from the time lightning is

sighted to when the clap of thunder is heard.Divide this number by five (5) to obtain how

far away in miles the lighting has occurred.For Example- if an individual counts 30

seconds between seeing the flash and hearing the bang, 30/5 equals 6, therefore the lightning flash is approximately 6 miles away.

All individuals should have left the site and be in a safe location by the time the flash-to-bang method is 30 seconds.

Lightening Humor

NATA Recommendation 6-Large Venue Planning

1. A specific lightning-safety plan for large scale events should be established. A complete tool kit can be found at: http://www.csm-institute.com/NOAA_-_Large_Venues.pdf . The plan should include:

a) Use of a reliable weather monitoring system to determine whether to cancel or postpone prior to start of activity.

b) Means to prevent spectators from entering an outdoor venue when the event is suspended. Spectators should be directed to nearest safe location.

c) Identification of enough close-proximity substantial building and fully enclosed metal vehicles to hold all individuals (spectators and participants).

d) Means to ensure a safe and orderly evacuation from the event. Announcements, signage, safety information in event programs

and brochures, entrances that serve as exits, ushers available to assist

e) Consideration for the time it takes to notify and move all individuals so that they can be completely in a safe location by the time the leading edge of the storm is within 6 miles.

NATA Recommendation 7-First Aide

1. Active thunderstorms can pose an ongoing hazard to rescuers as well as participants and spectators. Rescuers and Emergency Personnel must ensure their own personal safety before entering venue to provide aid.

2. Activate EMS. Evaluate and treat in the following manner:

a) Move to a safe location if necessary;b) Evaluate and treat for apnea and or cardiac arrest;c) Assess level of consciousness;d) Evaluate and treat for possible spinal cord injury;e) Evaluate and treat for hypothermia

3. Personnel responsible for well-being of participants should maintain current CPR and First-Aid Certification.

4. If AED is available, it should be applied on anyone who appears to be unconscious, pulseless or apneic.

NATA Recommendation 8-Personal Safety and Notification of Participants of Lightning

Danger1. If thunder can be heard, lightning is close enough to be a hazard and people should go to a safe location immediately.

2. In the event of impending thunderstorms, those in control of outdoor events should fulfill their obligation to warn participants and guests of lightning danger.

3. All individuals have the right to vacate an outdoor site or unsafe area, without fear of repercussion or penalty, in order to seek a lightning-safe location if they feel in danger from impending lightning activity.

National Weather Service Terminology

Severe Thunderstorm Watch“The potential exists for the

development of thunderstorms which may produce large hail or damaging winds. When a watch is issued, you should go about your normal activities, but keep an eye to the sky and an ear to the NWS or local radio or television stations for further updates and possible warnings.”

National Weather Service Terminology

Severe Thunderstorm Warning“A severe thunderstorm is occurring or

imminent based on doppler radar information. You should move indoors to a place of safety. Schools should think about delaying departure of buses and should take quick action to delay outdoor sports, activities, etc.”Refers to hail that is dime size, .75 inches in

diameter or larger and/or wind gusts to 58 mph or more.

Rain and Lighting are not criteria used to define “severe.”

Summary… Formalize and implement a lightning-safety policy

and/or EAP before the season starts or event occurs. It should include the following: Established and recognized chain of command; Reliable means of monitoring the weather; A list of previously identified, venue specific safe

structures; Criteria for suspension of activity, evacuation of facility,

and all-clear signals. Use lightning safety slogans. Practice and follow published lightning-safety

guidelines; Maintain CPR and first-aid certifications and have

AEDs and other first aide equipment readily available.

Resources for Lightning Safety

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (www.noaa.gov)

National Weather Service (www.nws.noaa.gov)

Lightning Safety (www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov)

Lightning Strike and Electric Shock Survivors International (www.lightning-strike.org)

References

Walsh, K, Cooper, M. National Athletic Trainers Association Position Statement: Lightning Safety for Athletics and Recreation. Journal of Athletic Training. 2013;48(2):258-270

National Weather Service. www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov.

Thank yous

Rusty McKune, ATCSports Medicine CoordinatorThe Nebraska Medical Center

Jeff Rudy, Ph.D., ATCDirector of Athletic Training Education Department of Nutrition and Health Science