2002 Press Releases

Saint Barnabas Burn Center Offers Tips on Lightning Safety

LIVINGSTON, NJ – Lightning causes more casualties in the United States than any other weather-related phenomena, except floods. Each year, lightning is responsible for an average of 100 deaths and hundreds more injuries. Most of these injuries could be prevented if individuals engaged in safe behavior during thunderstorms. As part of its mission to educate the public about burn prevention and fire safety, the Education Department of the Burn Foundation and Burn Center at Saint Barnabas Medical Center has compiled factual information on lightning safety.

Lightning facts

Approximately 75 percent of lightning strikes occur in the summer months. Risk is highest in the late afternoon, usually between 2 and 6 p.m. Those most likely to be hurt are frequently engaged in activities involving open fields and recreation areas, standing under trees, or playing water-related sports, or golfing. Males are struck by lightning four times more often than females.

Lightning safety

The most important thing to remember is that no place outside is completely safe when a thunderstorm is near. When planning outdoor activities always check with a reliable forecast such as the National Weather Service for storm warnings and plan accordingly.

The National Lightning Safety Institute created the safety slogan, "If you can see it – flee it; if you can hear it – clear it," referring to both thunder and lightning, as warning signs of impending danger. Thunder indicates one is already within the range of where the next ground flash may occur. Individuals should, therefore, seek shelter immediately. Because lightning can travel as far as ten miles, strikes can occur "out of the clear blue sky." Many serious lightning casualties occur as storms approach because people ignore these warnings. It is, therefore, very important to seek adequate shelter immediately. In addition, 50 percent of all lightning deaths occur just after the storm has passed when people no longer perceive danger. Experts recommend that individuals wait 30 minutes after the last flash of lightning or sound of thunder before resuming outdoor activities. Other early warning signs are a sudden drop in temperature, increase in wind or rainfall, and increasing, thickening and darkening clouds.

In 1998, the American Meteorological Society Conference, formed the "Lightning Safety Group" which drafted many of the following safety recommendations:

Choose a safe location during a thunderstorm:

• Large, enclosed structures are safer than smaller or open structures.

• Once inside, stay away from any conducting path to the outside: corded telephones, headsets, lighting and electric sockets, fireplaces, or plumbing. Do not bath, shower or wash dishes. Turn off, unplug and stay away from electrical appliances, computers, power tools and television sets.

• Stay clear of windows and doors.

•  Fully enclosed metal vehicles such as cars, trucks, buses and vans are quite safe. Avoid contact with metal surfaces until the threat has passed. (Vehicles are safe because of their metal frames, not their rubber tires.)

Avoid being in or near:

• Areas that are higher than the surrounding landscape.

• Wide open areas, including sports fields and beaches. 

• Isolated trees. Never use a tree as shelter from the rain.

• Unsubstantial or open shelters or vehicles: porches, unprotected gazebos, rain or picnic shelters, baseball dugouts, a telephone booth, convertibles, golf carts, etc. 

• Tall, isolated structures: communications towers, flagpoles or light poles

• Bleachers (metal or wood)

• Metal objects (fences, machinery, motors, power tools)

• Water (the ocean, lakes, rivers, outdoor or indoor swimming pools)

If you are unable to reach shelter:

• Move to a lower elevation away from the direction of the storm. 

• Get out of open field areas.

• In a dense forest, avoid the taller trees. If only isolated trees, towers or poles are nearby, keep twice as far away from the object as it is high.

• Move inshore at least 100 yards away from the water. If stranded on a small boat, position yourself as low as possible on the boat, with your entire body below the line of the boat, taking care to avoid contact with metal objects.

Become a very small target:  

• Do not huddle together; spread out at least fifteen feet from one another.

• Do not stand upright, sit down, or lie down. Go into the lightning crouch: Squat low to the ground, keep your feet close together, tuck your head low, and cover your ears to minimize hearing damage that may occur as a result of loud thunder. 

• Do not hold or wear objects such as golf clubs, fishing rods, baseball bats, metal frame backpacks, etc. 

• If possible, place an insulating object beneath your feet: sleeping bag, coiled rope, foam pad, etc.

According to Sue D’Alessio, Burn Educator for The Saint Barnabas Burn Center, in the event someone is struck by lightning, bystanders should call 911. “Victims of lightning strikes do not carry an electrical charge and can be touched immediately with no risk to the rescuer,” she explains.

For more information on lightning safety, visit: www.nssl.noaa.gov or www.lightningsafety.com. For any type of Burn Education Program, including lightning safety, please contact the Saint Barnabas Burn Foundation’s Education Department at (973) 322-8071 or (732) 557-3275.

[ top ]