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!

Lightning Casualties In U.S. ( ) (National Severe Storms Laboratory) Radio and Radio Equipment (1%) Farm and Heavy Equipment (5%) Telephone (4%) Golf (6%) Open Fields (Includes Fields in Campsites & Sports Fields) (45%) Under Trees (23%) Water (Swimming, boating, fishing) (14%) Trees & Fences (2%) Camping Activities can put Scouts at Risk! 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 Water Related (14%) Swimming Indoor Pools Too! Boating Scouting Lightning Hazards

Golf (6%) Hiking in Patrols Heavy Equipment (5%) Grounds Keepers Telephone (4%) Everyone! Scouting Activities can put Scouts At Risk! Scouting Lightning Hazards

NO! Don’t “Tough It Out”! Do Postpone Or Cancel Event Prevent Scout Lives and Life- Long Crippling Injuries Being Safe is: More Important Than A Game! Scouts have to be aware of Rising Lightning Casualty Rates Education is key to survival and response… Scouting Activities Can Put Scouts at Risk! 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.)

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 Rule May Seem Too Conservative -- It’s Not! Important Points

Recommendations (con’t.) 30 Some Important Points For Scouters  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.) Seek Proper Shelter  Buildings are much better than vehicles  Vehicles Offer Some Safety  No Place Outside is Safe – Know the safety position and stay away from tall trees Lightning Certified Facilities Outdoors Lightning Protected Buildings Relative Lightning Protection

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.)

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! 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 Some Important Pointers For 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. NNJC is concerned for all Scouters

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 HANDOUTS! Questions? Want To Do Lightning Safety? Send requests to Daniel E. Stryker ( )