Sports Shorts: Lightning Safety for Outdoor Athletics

Fort Sanders Sports Medicine Lightning is the most common severe weather hazard experienced by athletes and others participating in outdoor activities. It causes nearly 100 deaths and 400 injuries every year in the United States. Thunderstorms are especially dangerous to those exercising or competing outdoors. Lightning often occurs in the afternoon or early evening during the late spring to early fall, when athletes are on the field and active individuals enjoy being outside. Quite often, we may find ourselves on the football, baseball, or soccer field when severe weather approaches. It is best to have an emergency plan already in place before such an event occurs. The following guidelines for lightening safety were compiled by the National Athletic Trainers Association and apply to all outdoor activities, as well as indoor swimming-pool activities. Develop a plan of action specific to lightning safety. Create a chain of command. Who decides to remove individuals from the field or activity? Assign a “weather watcher,” someone to actively look for signs of threatening weather and notify the chain of command if lightning becomes dangerous. The “weather watcher” may use the “flash-to-bang” method to determine how close the lightning is to the field. Begin counting when the lightning “flash” is sighted. Stop counting when the thunder “bang” is heard. Divide this number by five. This will tell you how far away the lightning is in miles. For example, a flash-to-bang count of 30 seconds equates to a distance of 6 miles. By the time the flash-to-bang count approaches 30 seconds (or if it is less than 30 seconds), all individuals should already be inside or should seek a safe structure or location immediately. Have a method of monitoring local weather forecasts/warnings available (such as a radio). Designate locations that are safe from the lightning hazard for each field or site. The best choice for a safe location from lightning is any substantial, frequently inhabited building. Electric and telephone wiring and plumbing pathways help to ground a building, which is why buildings are safer than remaining outside during a thunderstorm. It is important not to be connected to these pathways during a thunderstorm (for example, don’t talk on phone or take a shower). The next best choice for a safe location from lightning is a fully-enclosed vehicle with a metal roof with the windows closed (convertibles and golf carts do not provide protection from lightning). Do not touch any part of the metal framework of the vehicle while inside the car during a thunderstorm. Develop specific criteria for suspending and resuming activities. If a thunderstorm appears certain before or during an activity or contest, postpone the activity until the hazard has passed. Signs of approaching thunderstorms are darkening clouds, high winds, and thunder or lightning activity. Once activities have been suspended, wait at least 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder or lightning flash before resuming an activity or returning outside. Read messages over the public address system and place lightning-safety tips in game programs to inform spectators and competitors about what to do and where to go during thunderstorm activity. Avoid contact or proximity to the highest point of an open field or open water. Do not take shelter under or near trees, flag poles, or light poles. Avoid using plumbing facilities (including indoor and outdoor pools), taking showers, and land-line telephones during thunderstorm activity. Cordless or cellular telephones are safer to use when emergency help is needed. Remember, if you hear crackling noises or feel your hair stand on end or skin tingle, you should assume the lightning-safe position (crouched on the ground, weight on the balls of the feet, feet together, head lowered, with ears covered). Do not lie flat on the ground. Following these guidelines will help keep both athletes and fans safe from threatening thunderstorms or lightening while enjoying the outdoors. Rissa Andres, ATC/L, is a graduate of Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla. As an athletic trainer, she has worked with a variety of collegiate and professional sports programs. She now serves as the head athletic trainer for Sevier County High School.