Transcript Environmental Safety - Cornhusker State Games

When Lightning Strikes:
Preparing for Severe Weather
During Major Events
Presented by:
Darcie Christensen, DPT, ATC
Saint Elizabeth Sports & Physical Therapy
The Physician Network
575 S. 70th Street, Suite 300 (402) 219-7498
5000 N. 26th Street, Suite 400 (402) 742-8410
1230 Aries Drive, Suite D (402) 434-5895
2510 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_li
ghtning-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
decade
Greatest number in July
Most casualties occur between 10:00 AM and 7:00 PM
 2010-2011
48% 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 Statistics
http://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 Areas
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Establish a Lightning Specific Emergency Action Plan
Lightning and General Awareness
Identify Locations Safe from Lightning
Identify Locations Unsafe from Lightning
Criteria for Postponement and Resumption of Activities
Large Venue Planning
First Aid
Personal Safety and Notification of Participants of
Lightning Danger
 25 Individual Recommendations
NATA Recommendation 1Establish a Lightning-Specific EAP
 EAP should include the following
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
1.

3.
4.
5.
This person must have the unchallengeable authority
to suspend activity.
Use a reliable means of monitoring the weather.
Identify safe locations from lightning hazard in
advance of the event for each venue.
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 2Lightning and General Awareness
1. 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
NATA Recommendation 4
Identify Locations Safe from Lightning
Identify 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 5Criteria for Postponement and
Resumption of Activities
1. 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 Systems
Thor Guard
 Smartphone/mobile devices
DTN/Meteorlogix
iStrike
**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-Bang
 Count 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 6Large Venue Planning
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:
1.
Use of a reliable weather monitoring system to determine whether
to cancel or postpone prior to start of activity.
Means to prevent spectators from entering an outdoor venue when
the event is suspended. Spectators should be directed to nearest
safe location.
Identification of enough close-proximity substantial building and
fully enclosed metal vehicles to hold all individuals (spectators and
participants).
Means to ensure a safe and orderly evacuation from the event.
a)
b)
c)
d)

e)
Announcements, signage, safety information in event programs and
brochures, entrances that serve as exits, ushers available to assist
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 7First 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)
b)
c)
d)
e)
Move to a safe location if necessary;
Evaluate and treat for apnea and or cardiac arrest;
Assess level of consciousness;
Evaluate and treat for possible spinal cord injury;
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 8Personal Safety and Notification of
Participants of Lightning Danger
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.
1.
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, ATC
Sports Medicine Coordinator
The Nebraska Medical Center
 Jeff Rudy, Ph.D., ATC
Director of Athletic Training Education
Department of Nutrition and Health Science