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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BURLINGTON VT
705 AM EDT FRI JUN 26 2009

...LIGHTNING AWARENESS WEEK - LIGHTNING MYTHS VS. FACTS...



LIGHTNING IS THE SECOND DEADLIEST NATURAL DISASTER IN THE 

UNITED STATES WITH AN AVERAGE OF 62 DEATHS AND HUNDREDS OF

INJURIES ANNUALLY.  LIGHTNING RELATED INJURIES CAN RESULT IN 

LIFE-LONG PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DISABILITIES THAT CHANGES AN 

INDIVIDUALS LIFE AS WELL AS THEIR FAMILIES FOREVER.



IF SOMEONE IS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THEY 

RECEIVE THE APPROPRIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY. LIGHTNING 

VICTIMS DO NOT CARRY AN ELECTRICAL CHARGE AND ARE SAFE TO HANDLE. 

FIRST...HAVE SOMEONE CALL 9-1-1 OR YOUR LOCAL RESCUE SERVICE. 

CHECK TO SEE IF THE VICTIM IS BREATHING AND HAS A PULSE AND 

CONTINUE TO MONITOR UNTIL HELP ARRIVES. CARDIAC ARREST IS THE 

IMMEDIATE CAUSE OF DEATH IN MOST LIGHTNING FATALITIES, IF 

NECESSARY BEGIN CPR. ALSO, IF POSSIBLE MOVE THE VICTIM TO A 

SAFER LOCATION.



LIGHTNING RELATED CASUALTIES CAN BE EASILY AVOIDED BY KNOWING 

WHAT TO DO IF A THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES. 



THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME WELL KNOWN LIGHTNING MYTHS COMPARED WITH 

ACTUAL LIGHTNING FACTS.



MYTH: LIGHTNING NEVER STRIKES TWICE IN THE SAME PLACE.

FACT: LIGHTNING OFTEN STRIKES THE SAME PLACE...IF IT/S A TALL 

      ISOLATED OBJECT.



MYTH: IF IT/S NOT RAINING...THEN I/M SAFE FROM LIGHTNING.

MYTH: LIGHTNING CAN'T STRIKE IF CLOUDS AREN'T OVERHEAD.

FACT: LIGHTNING "OFTEN" STRIKES OVER THREE MILES AWAY FROM THE 

      RAIN CORE AND IN SOME CASES STRIKES 10 TO 15 MILES AWAY 

      FROM THE THUNDERSTORM.



MYTH: A LIGHTING VICTIM IS ELECTRIFIED AND YOU/LL BE ELECTROCUTED 

      BY CONTACTING THEM.

FACT: THE HUMAN BODY DOES NOT STORE ELECTRICITY. IF A PERSON 

      BECOMES UNCONSCIUOUS AND IS NOT BREATHING...THEN THEY/RE 

      LIKELY SUFFERING FROM CARDIAC ARREST. IMMEDIATE APPLICATION 

      OF CPR AND CALLING FOR MEDICAL HELP COULD SAVE A LIFE.



MYTH: A LIGHTNING STRIKE MEANS INSTANT DEATH AND A BURNED BODY.

FACT: ONLY 10 PERCENT OF LIGHTNING VICTIMS DIE. MEANWHILE FOR THE 

      LIGHTNING SURVIVORS...70 PERCENT SUFFER LIFE-LONG MEDICAL 

      PROBLEMS AND 30 PERCENT ARE DEBILITATING AND CAN/T WORK.    

      LIGHTNING WILL OFTEN LEAVE A SMALL SURFACE BURN...NOT A 

      BURNED BODY.



MYTH: RUBBER TIRES PROTECT YOU FROM LIGHTNING WHILE IN A VEHICLE.

FACT: MOST CARS ARE REASONABLY SAFE FROM LIGHTNING BUT NOT FROM 

      THE RUBBER TIRES...BUT RATHER THE METAL ROOF AND SIDES OF 

      THE VEHICLE. THEREFORE...COVERTIBLES...MOTORCYCLES...

      BICYCLES AND VEHICLES WITH PLASTIC OR FIBERGLASS SHELLS 

      OFFER NO LIGHTNING PROTECTION.



MYTH: IF LIGHTING IS ABOUT TO STRIKE...LIE FLAT ON THE GROUND.

FACT: THIS ADVICE IS OUTDATED. THE BEST THING IS TO USE THE 

      LIGHTNING CROUCH...PUT YOUR FEET TOGETHER...SQUAT LOW...

      TUCK YOUR HEAD AND COVER YOUR EARS.



MYTH: WHEN PLAYING SPORTS AND THUNDERSTORMS THREATEN...WAIT TO 

      FINISH THE GAME BEFORE FINDING SHELTER.

FACT: SPORTS ACTIVITIES IS THE FASTEST RISING RATE OF LIGHTNING 

      CASUALTIES. IF THUNDERSTORMS THREATEN...SEEK SAFE SHELTER 

      UPON WITNESSING DARKENING SKIES...HEARING THUNDER OR 

      FOLLOWING THE 30/30 RULE.



HOPEFULLY THE SAFETY INFORMATION PROVIDED HAS IMPROVED YOUR 

UNDERSTANDING OF THE DANGERS OF LIGHTNING AND YOU WILL TAKE 

PROTECTIVE ACTIONS IN THE FUTURE.



ADDITIONAL LIGHTNING INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET 

AT WWW.LIGHTNINGSAFETY.NOAA.GOV.


$$