...LIGHTNING SAFETY WHILE OUTDOORS...

DURING THE SUMMER...PEOPLE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE WARM WEATHER TO
ENJOY A MULTITUDE OF RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.  TO BE SAFE...THOSE
WHO ARE PARTICIPATING IN OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES SHOULD TAKE THE
APPROPRIATE ACTIONS IN A TIMELY MANNER WHEN THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH.

BEING OUTDOORS WHEN THUNDERSTORMS ARE NEARBY INVOLVES RISK...AND
CERTAIN LOCATIONS ARE WORSE THAN OTHERS.  OF THE LIGHTNING CASUALTY
CASES IN THE UNITED STATES WHERE THE LOCATION OF THE INCIDENT WAS
REPORTED...ABOUT 48 PERCENT OCCURRED IN OPEN FIELDS...23 PERCENT
OCCURRED UNDER TREES...ABOUT 12 PERCENT WERE INVOLVED WATER RELATED
ACTIVITIES...7 PERCENT WITH PEOPLE DRIVING FARM EQUIPMENT OR OTHER
HEAVY EQUIPMENT...AND 6 PERCENT INVOLVED GOLFING...EITHER ON
THE COURSE OR UNDER A TREE.

WHILE NO ONE CAN COMPLETELY ELIMINATE THE RISK OF BEING STRUCK BY
LIGHTNING...BY USING THE FOLLOWING BASIC RULES...YOU CAN GREATLY
REDUCE YOUR RISK.

1. PLAN AHEAD.  IF THUNDERSTORMS ARE FORECAST...CONSIDER CANCELING
   OR POSTPONING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES SO THAT YOU AVOID A POTENTIALLY
   DANGEROUS SITUATION.

2. MONITOR THE WEATHER CONDITIONS.  WATCH THE SKY FOR ANY SIGNS
   OF A DEVELOPING OR APPROACHING STORM...PARTICULARLY IF YOU NEED
   A LONG TIME TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE.

3. IF THE SKY LOOKS THREATENING OR YOU HEAR THUNDER...IMMEDIATELY
   SEEK SAFETY INSIDE A SUBSTANTIAL BUILDING.  IF A SUBSTANTIAL
   BUILDING IS NOT AVAILABLE...TAKE SHELTER IN A HARD TOPPED METAL
   VEHICLE. REMAIN THERE FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES AFTER THE LAST
   FLASH OF LIGHTNING IS SEEN OR THE LAST THUNDER IS HEARD.  SOME
   LIGHTNING VICTIMS HAVE MADE THE MISTAKE OF RETURNING OUTDOORS
   BEFORE THE THREAT IS OVER.

4. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE IN A THUNDERSTORM...YOU SHOULD TRY
   TO MINIMIZE YOUR RISK OF BEING STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. IN THESE
   INSTANCES...AVOID TALL OBJECTS SUCH AS TALL TREES AND POLES...
   AVOID THINGS THAT CONDUCT ELECTRICITY SUCH AS METAL BLEACHERS
   OR WIRE FENCES...TRY TO MAKE YOURSELF AS SMALL A TARGET AS
   POSSIBLE...AND MINIMIZE YOUR CONTACT WITH THE GROUND.

...LIGHTNING SAFETY WHILE INDOORS...

A HOUSE OR OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUILDINGS OFFER THE BEST PROTECTION
FROM LIGHTNING.  UNLESS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO BE LIGHTNING
SAFE...SMALL STRUCTURES DO LITTLE...IF ANYTHING...TO PROTECT
OCCUPANTS FROM LIGHTNING. SMALL STRUCTURES SUCH AS...SMALL SHELTERS
ON ATHLETIC FIELDS...GOLF COURSES...PARKS...ROADSIDE PICNIC AREAS...
SCHOOL YARDS AND ELSEWHERE ARE DESIGNED TO PROTECT PEOPLE FROM RAIN
AND SUN...BUT NOT LIGHTNING. A SHELTER THAT DOES NOT CONTAIN PLUMBING
OR WIRING THROUGHOUT...OR SOME OTHER MECHANISM FOR GROUNDING FROM THE
ROOF TO GROUND IS NOT SAFE. SMALL WOODEN...VINYL...OR METAL SHEDS
OFFER LITTLE OR NO PROTECTION FROM LIGHTNING AND SHOULD BE AVOIDED
DURING THUNDERSTORMS.

THERE ARE THREE MAIN WAYS LIGHTNING ENTERS HOMES AND BUILDINGS:

1. A DIRECT STRIKE

2. THROUGH WIRES OR PIPES THAT EXTEND OUTSIDE THE STRUCTURE

3. THROUGH THE GROUND.

REGARDLESS OF THE METHOD OF ENTRANCE...ONCE IN A STRUCTURE...THE
LIGHTNING CAN TRAVEL THROUGH THE ELECTRICAL...PHONE...PLUMBING...
AND RADIO...TELEVISION RECEPTION SYSTEMS. LIGHTNING CAN ALSO TRAVEL
THROUGH ANY METAL WIRES OR BARS IN CONCRETE WALLS OR FLOORING.

PHONE USE IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF INDOOR LIGHTNING INJURIES IN THE
UNITED STATES...AS LIGHTNING CAN TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES IN BOTH PHONE
AND ELECTRICAL WIRES. COMPARED TO TALKING ON A STANDARD PHONE...THE
CORDLESS PHONE IS MUCH LESS OF A HAZARD. HOWEVER...THERE IS THE RISK
OF BEING STRUCK BY LIGHTNING DURING THE MOMENT OF CONTACT WHEN THE
PHONE IS BEING REMOVED FROM THE CRADLE.  IN ADDITION...THE CORDLESS
PHONE SHOULD ONLY BE USED IN A SAFE PLACE...THERE IS AN INCREASED
RISK IF USED OUTSIDE...NEAR A WINDOW...OR NEAR ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS
IN THE HOME.

THE FOLLOWING LIGHTNING SAFETY TIPS SHOULD BE FOLLOWED FOR
INSIDE THE HOME...

1. AVOID CONTACT WITH CORDED PHONES

2. AVOID CONTACT WITH ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT OR CORDS.  IF YOU
   PLAN TO UNPLUG ANY ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT...DO SO WELL BEFORE
   THE STORM ARRIVES.

3. AVOID CONTACT WITH PLUMBING. DO NOT WASH YOUR HANDS...DO
   NOT TAKE A SHOWER...DO NOT WASH DISHES...AND DO NOT DO LAUNDRY.

4. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS...AND STAY OFF PORCHES.

5. DO NOT LIE ON CONCRETE FLOORS AND DO NOT LEAN AGAINST
   CONCRETE WALLS.