Lightning delay. Lightning Safety for Outdoor Sports: Essential Protocols and Precautions

When should outdoor activities be stopped due to lightning risk. Where is the safest place to seek shelter during a thunderstorm. How long should you wait before resuming outdoor activities after lightning. Who is responsible for monitoring weather conditions and making safety decisions during outdoor events. What immediate actions should be taken if someone is struck by lightning.

Understanding the Dangers of Lightning During Outdoor Activities

Lightning poses a significant threat to outdoor sports and recreational activities, with an estimated 20 to 25 million cloud-to-ground lightning flashes occurring annually in the United States. Each of these flashes has the potential to be lethal, making it crucial for outdoor enthusiasts and event organizers to be well-informed about lightning safety.

Tragically, lightning claims approximately 30 lives each year, with hundreds more suffering injuries, including devastating neurological damage. About two-thirds of these fatalities are associated with outdoor recreational activities, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive safety measures.

The Unpredictable Nature of Lightning Strikes

While many lightning strikes occur directly under storm clouds where it’s raining, some can reach out to areas where people may perceive the threat to be low or non-existent. This unpredictability makes lightning particularly dangerous, as it can catch people off guard even when they believe they’re at a safe distance from the storm.

Developing a Comprehensive Lightning Safety Plan

For organized outdoor activities, the National Weather Service strongly recommends having a well-defined lightning safety plan in place. This plan should provide clear and specific guidelines to eliminate errors in judgment and ensure the safety of all participants and spectators.

Key Components of a Lightning Safety Plan

• Criteria for stopping activities
• Designated safe shelter locations
• Guidelines for resuming activities
• Assignment of weather monitoring responsibilities
• Emergency procedures for lightning strike victims

By addressing these crucial elements, event organizers can significantly reduce the risk of lightning-related incidents and ensure a swift, coordinated response in case of emergency.

When to Stop Outdoor Activities Due to Lightning Risk

Determining the right moment to halt outdoor activities is critical in preventing lightning-related injuries and fatalities. The decision to stop should be based on objective criteria rather than personal experience or a desire to complete the event.

Key Indicators for Stopping Activities

1. Visual lightning detection: If lightning is visible, regardless of its perceived distance, it’s time to seek shelter immediately.
2. Audible thunder: Thunder can typically be heard from up to 10 miles away, indicating that lightning is within striking distance.
3. Threatening skies: Dark, ominous clouds can signal an imminent thunderstorm, even if lightning or thunder hasn’t been observed yet.

How far does the lightning threat extend? In general, a significant lightning threat extends outward from the base of a thunderstorm cloud about 6 to 10 miles. It’s crucial to factor in the time required for everyone to reach safety when making the decision to stop activities.

Identifying Safe Shelter Options During a Thunderstorm

When a thunderstorm approaches, it’s essential to know where to seek proper shelter. The golden rule is that no place outside is safe when lightning is in the area.

Characteristics of Safe Shelter

• Substantial buildings with proper wiring and plumbing
• Office buildings, schools, and homes
• Structures that offer protection from wind and rain

What structures should be avoided during a thunderstorm? Small outdoor buildings such as dugouts, rain shelters, and sheds do not provide adequate protection from lightning and should be avoided. These structures can actually increase the risk of a lightning strike due to their isolated nature and lack of proper grounding.

Safety Precautions Inside Shelter

Once inside a safe structure, it’s important to take additional precautions:

• Stay away from windows and doors
• Avoid contact with electrical equipment or cords
• Steer clear of plumbing fixtures
• Refrain from using corded phones

The 30-30 Rule: A Guide for Resuming Outdoor Activities

Knowing when it’s safe to resume outdoor activities after a thunderstorm is just as crucial as knowing when to seek shelter. The 30-30 rule provides a simple yet effective guideline for making this decision.

Understanding the 30-30 Rule

1. First 30: Count the seconds between seeing lightning and hearing thunder. If this time is less than 30 seconds, lightning is still a threat. Stay in your safe shelter.
2. Second 30: After the last observed lightning flash or thunder clap, wait 30 minutes before resuming outdoor activities.

Why is the 30-minute waiting period necessary? This buffer allows the thunderstorm to move a safe distance away and reduces the risk of being caught off-guard by lingering lightning strikes.

Designating Weather Monitors for Outdoor Events

For organized outdoor events, it’s crucial to have designated individuals responsible for monitoring weather conditions and making safety decisions. These weather monitors play a vital role in implementing the lightning safety plan effectively.

Responsibilities of Weather Monitors

• Continuously track weather forecasts and real-time conditions
• Utilize weather radar and lightning detection technology
• Communicate with event organizers and participants
• Make timely decisions on pausing or canceling activities
• Coordinate evacuation to safe shelters when necessary

What qualifications should weather monitors possess? Ideally, weather monitors should have a solid understanding of meteorology, familiarity with weather monitoring tools, and excellent communication skills. They should also be authorized to make decisive actions without hesitation when safety is at risk.

Emergency Response: Treating Lightning Strike Victims

In the unfortunate event that someone is struck by lightning, immediate and appropriate action can be life-saving. Understanding the proper emergency response procedures is crucial for anyone involved in outdoor activities.

Key Steps in Treating Lightning Strike Victims

1. Ensure scene safety: Before approaching the victim, make sure the threat of lightning has passed.
2. Call for emergency medical services: Dial 911 or your local emergency number immediately.
3. Check for responsiveness: Determine if the victim is conscious and breathing.
4. Begin CPR if necessary: If the victim is not breathing, start cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
5. Treat for shock: Keep the victim warm and comfortable until help arrives.
6. Address other injuries: Look for burns, fractures, or other trauma and provide appropriate first aid.

Is it safe to touch a lightning strike victim? Contrary to popular belief, lightning strike victims do not carry an electrical charge and can be safely touched and treated immediately. Quick action can make the difference between life and death.

Leveraging Technology for Enhanced Lightning Safety

Advancements in technology have provided valuable tools for improving lightning safety during outdoor activities. These technologies can complement traditional methods of weather monitoring and decision-making.

Useful Technologies for Lightning Safety

• Lightning detection systems: These can provide real-time data on lightning strikes in the vicinity.
• Weather apps with lightning alerts: Many smartphone apps offer push notifications for nearby lightning activity.
• Portable weather radios: These provide up-to-date weather information and alerts from the National Weather Service.
• Online radar and satellite imagery: These tools can help track the movement and development of storms.

How can technology improve reaction times to lightning threats? By providing earlier warnings and more precise information about storm locations and movements, these technologies can help event organizers make proactive decisions to ensure participant safety.

Educating Participants and Spectators on Lightning Safety

A crucial aspect of any lightning safety plan is ensuring that all participants and spectators are well-informed about the risks and proper safety procedures. Education can significantly reduce the likelihood of lightning-related incidents.

Key Lightning Safety Messages to Communicate

• The speed and unpredictability of lightning strikes
• The importance of seeking proper shelter at the first signs of a thunderstorm
• The definition of safe shelter and structures to avoid
• The 30-30 rule for resuming activities
• Emergency procedures and evacuation plans

How can organizers effectively disseminate lightning safety information? Consider incorporating safety briefings into pre-event activities, displaying informational posters at venues, and including safety guidelines in event programs or registration materials.

Legal Considerations and Liability in Lightning Safety

Event organizers and facility managers must be aware of the legal implications surrounding lightning safety. Failure to implement adequate safety measures could result in liability issues if injuries or fatalities occur.

Key Legal Considerations

• Duty of care: Organizers have a responsibility to take reasonable steps to ensure participant safety.
• Risk assessment: Conducting and documenting thorough risk assessments for lightning hazards.
• Policy implementation: Developing and consistently enforcing lightning safety policies.
• Documentation: Maintaining records of safety plans, training, and incident reports.
• Insurance coverage: Ensuring appropriate liability insurance is in place.

What steps can organizers take to minimize legal risks? Implementing a comprehensive lightning safety plan, providing clear communication about risks and procedures, and consistently enforcing safety protocols can help mitigate legal vulnerabilities.

Case Studies: Learning from Past Lightning Incidents

Examining real-life incidents where lightning has impacted outdoor sports events can provide valuable insights and reinforce the importance of proper safety measures.

Notable Lightning Incidents in Sports

• 1998 U.S. Open golf tournament: A spectator was killed by lightning during a weather delay.
• 2019 PGA Tour Championship: Six spectators were injured when lightning struck a tree near the course.
• 2020 South African football match: Two players were struck by lightning during a game, resulting in one fatality.

What lessons can be learned from these incidents? These cases highlight the importance of proactive decision-making, clear communication with participants and spectators, and the need for robust evacuation procedures.

Adapting Lightning Safety Protocols for Different Sports and Venues

While general lightning safety principles apply across all outdoor activities, specific sports and venues may require tailored approaches to ensure maximum safety and efficiency.

Sport-Specific Considerations

• Golf: Developing evacuation plans for large, spread-out courses
• Swimming: Addressing the unique risks associated with water activities
• Mountain sports: Considering the challenges of seeking shelter at high altitudes
• Large stadiums: Managing the evacuation of thousands of spectators

How can organizers adapt safety protocols to their specific needs? Conduct thorough risk assessments of the specific sport and venue, consult with local meteorologists and safety experts, and regularly review and update protocols based on new information and experiences.

The Role of Meteorologists in Outdoor Event Safety

Professional meteorologists can play a crucial role in enhancing lightning safety for outdoor events. Their expertise can provide valuable insights beyond what general weather forecasts offer.

Benefits of Involving Meteorologists

• Customized forecasts: Tailored predictions for specific locations and time frames
• Real-time consultation: Expert interpretation of developing weather patterns
• Risk assessment: Professional evaluation of lightning threats
• Training: Education for event staff on weather monitoring and decision-making

When should event organizers consider hiring a professional meteorologist? For large-scale events, multi-day tournaments, or activities in areas prone to severe weather, the expertise of a meteorologist can be invaluable in ensuring participant safety and minimizing disruptions.

Fostering a Culture of Lightning Safety in Sports

Creating a pervasive culture of lightning safety within sports organizations and communities is essential for long-term risk reduction. This involves changing attitudes and behaviors at all levels, from recreational players to professional athletes and administrators.

Strategies for Promoting Lightning Safety Culture

• Incorporate safety training into coaching certifications
• Regularly feature safety topics in sports publications and media
• Recognize and reward organizations for exemplary safety practices
• Encourage athletes to become safety advocates within their communities
• Integrate lightning safety education into youth sports programs

How can individual athletes contribute to a culture of lightning safety? By taking personal responsibility for understanding and following safety guidelines, speaking up when they observe unsafe practices, and setting a positive example for teammates and fans.

The Future of Lightning Safety in Outdoor Sports

As technology advances and our understanding of lightning behavior improves, the future of lightning safety in outdoor sports looks promising. Continued research and innovation are likely to enhance our ability to predict and respond to lightning threats.

Emerging Trends and Technologies

• Improved long-range lightning detection systems
• Integration of artificial intelligence in weather prediction
• Development of lightning-safe equipment and structures
• Enhanced mobile alerts and communication systems
• Virtual reality training for weather-related decision-making

How might these advancements impact lightning safety protocols? As new technologies become available, safety plans will need to be regularly updated to incorporate these tools and adjust procedures accordingly. This ongoing evolution will help create even safer environments for outdoor sports participants and spectators.

In conclusion, lightning safety in outdoor sports requires a multifaceted approach involving education, planning, technology, and a commitment to prioritizing safety above all else. By implementing comprehensive safety protocols and fostering a culture of awareness, we can significantly reduce the risks associated with lightning during outdoor activities. As we look to the future, continued research and technological advancements promise to further enhance our ability to protect athletes, spectators, and event staff from the dangers of lightning strikes.

Lightning Safety and Outdoor Sports Activities

It’s a common situation — a thunderstorm is approaching or nearby. Are conditions outside safe, or is it time to head for safe place? Not wanting to appear overly cautious, many people wait far too long before reacting to this potentially deadly weather threat.

Anyone who is outside in the summer needs to understand some basic information about lightning. Each year, thunderstorms produce an estimated 20 to 25 million cloud-to-ground lightning flashes in the United States — each one of those flashes is a potential killer. Some of those flashes strike directly under the storm where it is raining, but some of the flashes reach out away from the storm where people perceive the lightning threat to be low or nonexistent, and catch people by surprise.

Based on cases documented by the National Weather Service in recent years, about 30 people are killed by lightning each year and hundreds more are injured, some suffering devastating neurological injuries that persist for the rest of their lives. About two thirds of the deaths are associated with outdoor recreational activities.

Officials responsible for sports outdoor activities need to understand thunderstorms and lightning to make educated decisions on when to seek safety. Without this knowledge, officials may base their decisions on personal experience and or a desire to complete the activity. Unfortunately, decisions based on past experience or a desire to complete the activity can put the lives of those involved at risk.

For organized outdoor activities, the National Weather Service recommends that organizers have a lightning safety plan and follow it without exception. The plan should give clear and specific safety guidelines to eliminate errors in judgment. These guidelines should address the following questions.

• When should activities be stopped?
• Where should people go for safety?
• When should activities be resumed?
• Who should monitor the weather and make the decision to stop activities?
• What should be done if someone is struck by lightning?

Before an activity or event, organizers should listen to the latest forecast to determine the likelihood of thunderstorms. There are many good sources of up-to-date weather information including NOAA Weather Radio. If thunderstorms are forecast, organizers should consider canceling or postponing the activity or event. In some cases, the event can be moved indoors. Once people start to arrive at an event, the guidelines in the lightning safety plan should be followed. Officials should monitor weather conditions, weather radar, and lightning detection technology for developing or approaching storms. Below is some information to consider when making a lightning safety plan. In addition, NOAA has developed lightning safety toolkits for organizations and venues to use in making a plan. Below are some of the considerations in making a lightning safety plan.

When should activities be stopped?

In general, a significant lightning threat extends outward from the base of a thunderstorm cloud about 6 to 10 miles. It’s important to account for the time it will take for everyone to get to safety. Here are some criteria that could be used to stop activities.

• If you see lightning. The ability to see lightning varies depending on the time of day, weather conditions, and obstructions such as trees, mountains, etc. In clear air, and especially at night, lightning can be seen from storms more than 10 miles away provided that obstructions don’t limit the view of the thunderstorm.
• If you hear thunder. Thunder can usually be heard for a distance of about 10 miles provided that there is no background noise. Traffic, wind, and precipitation may limit the ability to hear thunder to less than 10 miles. If you hear thunder, though, it’s a safe bet that the storm is within ten miles.
• If the skies look threatening. Thunderstorms can develop directly overhead and some storms may develop lightning just as they move into an area.

Where should people go for safe shelter?

There is no place outside that is safe when a thunderstorm is in the area. Stop the activity immediately and get to a safe place immediately. Substantial buildings with wiring and plumbing provide the greatest amount of protection. Office buildings, schools, and homes are examples of buildings that would offer good protection. Once inside, stay away from windows and doors and anything that conducts electricity such as corded phones, wiring, plumbing, and anything connected to these. Note that small outdoor buildings including dugouts, rain shelters, sheds, etc., are NOT SAFE. In the absence of a substantial building, a hard-topped metal vehicle with the windows closed provides good protection.

When should activities be resumed?

Because electrical charges can linger in clouds after a thunderstorm has seemingly passed, experts agree that people should wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder before resuming outdoor activities.

Who should monitor the weather and make decisions?

Lightning safety plans should specify that someone be designated to monitor the weather for lightning. The lightning monitor should not be the coach, umpire, or referee, because these people will be busy and can’t adequately monitor conditions. The lightning monitor must know the plan’s guidelines and be empowered to assure that the guidelines are followed.

What should be done if someone is struck by lightning?

Most victims can survive a lightning strike; however, they need immediate medical attention. Call 911 for medical help. Victims do not carry an electrical charge. In many cases, the victim’s heart and/or breathing may have stopped. CPR or an AED may be needed to revive them. Continue to monitor the victim until medical help arrives. If possible, move the victim to a safer place inside away from the threat of another lightning strike.

More information:

Lightning Safety for You and Your Family brochure

Local lightning or weather safety information: contact the nearest National Weather Service Office near you.

Appendix A – Lightning Safety Guidelines

Each year across the United States, thunderstorms produce an estimated 25 million cloud-to-ground flashes of lightning – each one of those flashes is a potential killer. According to the National Weather Service, an average of 73 people are killed by lightning each year and hundreds more are injured, some suffering devastating neurological injuries that persist for the rest of their lives. A growing percentage of those struck are involved in outside recreational activities.

Officials responsible for sports events often lack adequate knowledge of thunderstorms and lightning to make educated decisions on when to seek safety. Without knowledge, officials base their decisions on personal experience and, sometimes, on the desire to complete the activity. Due to the nature of lightning, personal experience can be misleading.

While many people routinely put their lives in jeopardy when thunderstorms are nearby, few are actually struck by lightning. This results in a false sense of safety. Unfortunately, this false sense of safety has resulted in numerous lightning deaths and injuries during the past several decades because people made decisions that unknowingly put their lives or the lives of others at risk.

For organized outdoor activities, the National Weather Service recommends those in charge have a lightning safety plan, and that they follow the plan without exception. The plan should give clear and specific safety guidelines in order to eliminate errors in judgment. Prior to an activity or event, organizers should listen to the latest forecast to determine the likelihood of thunderstorms. NOAA Weather Radio is a good source of up-to-date weather information. Once people start to arrive, the guidelines in your league’s lightning safety plan should be followed.

A thunderstorm is approaching or nearby. Are conditions safe, or is it time to head for safety? Not wanting to appear overly cautious, many people wait far too long before reacting to this potentially deadly weather threat. The safety recommendations outlined here based on lightning research and the lessons learned from the unfortunate experiences of thousands of lightning strike victims.

Thunderstorms produce two types of lightning flashes, ‘negative’ and ‘positive.’ While both types are deadly, the characteristics of the two are quite different. Negative flashes occur more frequently, usually under or near the base of the thunderstorm where rain is falling. In contrast, positive flashes generally occur away from the center of the storm, often in areas where rain is not falling. There is no place outside that is safe in or near a thunderstorm. Consequently, people need to stop what they are doing and get to a safe place immediately. Small outdoor buildings including dugouts, rain shelters, sheds, etc., are NOT SAFE. Substantial buildings with wiring and plumbing provide the greatest amount of protection. Office buildings, schools, and homes are examples of buildings that would offer protection. Once inside, stay away from windows and doors and anything that conducts electricity such as corded phones, wiring, plumbing, and anything connected to these. In the absence of a substantial building, a hard-topped metal vehicle with the windows closed provides good protection. Occupants should avoid contact with metal in the vehicle and, to the extent possible, move away from windows.

Who should monitor the weather and who is responsible for making the decision to stop activities?

Lightning safety plans should specify that someone be designated to monitor the weather for lightning. The ‘lightning monitor’ should not include the coaches, umpires, or referees, as they are not able to devote the attention needed to adequately monitor conditions. The ‘lightning monitor’ must know the plan’s guidelines and be empowered to assure that those guidelines are followed.

When should activities be stopped?

The sooner activities are stopped and people get to a safe place, the greater the level of safety. In general, a significant lightning threat extends outward from the base of a thunderstorm cloud about 6 to 10 miles. Therefore, people should move to a safe place when a thunderstorm is 6 to 10 miles away. Also, the plan’s guidelines should account for the time it will take for everyone to get to a safe place. Here are some criteria that could be used to halt activities.

1. If lightning is observed. The ability to see lightning varies depending on the time of day, weather conditions, and obstructions such as trees, mountains, etc. In clear air, and especially at night, lightning can be seen from storms more than 10 miles away provided that obstructions don’t limit the view of the thunderstorm.
2. If thunder is heard. Thunder can usually be heard from a distance of about 10 miles provided that there is no background noise. Traffic, wind, and precipitation may limit the ability to hear thunder less than 10 miles away. If you hear thunder, though, it’s a safe bet that the storm is within ten miles.
3. If the time between lightning and corresponding thunder is 30 seconds or less. This would indicate that the thunderstorm is 6 miles away or less. As with the previous two criteria, obstructions, weather, noise, and other factors may limit the ability to use this criterion. In addition, a designated person must diligently monitor any lightning. In addition to any of the above criteria, activities should be halted if the sky looks threatening. Thunderstorms can develop directly overhead and some storms may develop lightning just as they move into an area.

When should activities be resumed?

Because electrical charges can linger in clouds after a thunderstorm has passed, experts agree that people should wait at least 30 minutes after the storm before resuming activities.

What should be done if someone is struck by lightning?

Most lightning strike victims can survive a lightning strike; however, medical attention may be needed immediately – have someone call for medical help. Victims do not carry an electrical charge and should be attended to at once. In many cases, the victim’s heart and/or breathing may have stopped and CPR may be needed to revive them. The victim should continue to be monitored until medical help arrives; heart and/or respiratory problems could persist, or the victim could go into shock. If possible, move the victim to a safer place away from the threat of another lightning strike.

Lightning death: why do Russians die during thunderstorms | Articles

In Russia, the first death of a person from a lightning strike occurred this year. The victim was a 61-year-old employee of the administration of the city of Gus-Khrustalny. A woman was found dead with burns during a community work day in the park. Rescuers, doctors and physicists told Izvestia how to behave during a thunderstorm so as not to suffer from lightning.

Victims of lightning

In Russia, the first death of a person from a lightning strike occurred this year. The victim was a 61-year-old resident of the Vladimir region Olga Novskaya.

As reported, the tragedy occurred in one of the parks in the city of Gus-Khrustalny. On April 23, employees of the local administration held a subbotnik there. At this time, a thunderstorm began, and lightning hit the chief specialist of the capital construction department. The woman died at the scene from her burns.

Such incidents occur with sad regularity. Last summer, a seven-year-old boy died on the shores of the Gulf of Finland. The child, along with his parents, was in a country house in the Petrodvortsovy district of St. Petersburg.

Photo: Izvestiya/Konstantin Kokoshkin

In the summer of 2019, a 58-year-old woman died in the Chelyabinsk Region while swimming in the river during a thunderstorm. Lightning struck her gold chain. When the woman was dragged ashore, she was dead. The cause of the incident was called a natural electrical injury.

Experts told Izvestia how to behave during a thunderstorm if you stayed indoors or found yourself in nature.

Season of thunderstorms

In Central Russia, the season of thunderstorms begins in May and ends in September, and in the southern regions they are observed almost all year round, Izvestia was told in the Russian Emergencies Ministry. The main danger during a thunderstorm is a lightning strike. In addition to the usual linear, sometimes a spherical one appears – a luminous ball floating in the air and exploding upon collision with any solid object.

To reduce the risk of lightning damage to buildings, special lightning protection is installed on them in the form of grounded metal masts and wires stretched high above the facilities of the facility. Because outdoors, the risk of suffering is much higher.

— Be sure to check the weather forecast before going to nature. If a thunderstorm is predicted, then postpone the rest for another day, the Ministry of Emergency Situations advises.

Photo: Izvestia/Konstantin Kokoshkin

If you have already found yourself in nature and noticed a thunderstorm front, then first of all you need to determine the approximate distance to it by the delay time of the first thunder and lightning flash, and also evaluate whether the front is approaching or moving away .

– Since the speed of light is huge (300 thousand km / s), we observe a flash of lightning instantly. Therefore, the sound delay will be determined by the distance and its speed. If the sound delay increases, then the storm front is receding, and if it is reduced, then it is approaching. Lightning is dangerous when a flash of thunder follows. In this case, precautionary measures must be taken.

Safety measures

The safest thing during a thunderstorm is to stay at home or in any room, says Stanislav Vinogradov, deputy head of the MIPT General Physics Department, in an interview with Izvestia. You can use household appliances and a computer, but you should take into account the risks for equipment: it can fail.

If you find yourself in a rural area, the Ministry of Emergency Situations advises to close the windows, doors and ventilation openings in the house and not to light the stove. In addition, you should not talk on the phone: lightning can get into the wires stretched between the poles.

– During lightning strikes, do not come close to electrical wiring, lightning rods, roof drains, antennas, do not stand near the window, turn off the TV, radio and other electrical appliances if possible, the Ministry of Emergency Situations says.

Photo: TASS/Artem Geodakyan

If a thunderstorm caught you in the field, do not lie down on the ground, exposing your whole body to the current. Go down into a ravine or other low ground and squat down with your arms around your legs. Never try to hide under a tree.

“Lightning selects the highest objects, so if you are in an open area, you can be one of them,” explains Maria Menshikova, senior medical consultant at Teledoctor24. — The distance from high lone objects must be at least 200 m. But from trees, especially pines, oaks and poplars, it is better to stay away – at a distance of at least 4-5 m. It is even more dangerous to be near water and even more so to swim in water bodies – there is a big risk that lightning will fall into them.

— If you get caught in a thunderstorm while hiking, you need to put out the fire, take the metal utensils outside the camp and change into dry clothes. Wet clothes are also capable of attracting lightning, just like the surface of a reservoir , – notes the interlocutor of Izvestia.

Photo: Izvestia/Pavel Bednyakov

In addition to water and wet clothes, lightning can be attracted by a working mobile phone, an umbrella (especially knitting needles and a rod) and any metal items (keys, tools).

Fireballs

If you are caught in a car by a thunderstorm, do not leave it. You will be safe there, because even with a lightning strike, the discharge will pass through the surface of the metal, says Stanislav Vinogradov. But it is dangerous to ride a bicycle or motorcycle at this time.

In rare cases, during a thunderstorm, you can encounter ball lightning, which can enter the room through open vents, windows and doors. For this reason, it is better to exclude any drafts in the apartment.

– If ball lightning is moving in your direction, do not throw objects at it in an attempt to change direction. In a collision with any object, lightning will simply explode, which can lead to disastrous consequences. It is best to slowly and smoothly move away from its trajectory. When the ball approaches, be sure to freeze. Moving in the direction of the air, it will simply fly off to the side,” says Maria Menshikova.

True, adds the Deputy Head of the Department of General Physics at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, such a phenomenon is rare. There are very few people who have seen ball lightning, let alone become its victims.

Photo: TASS/Valery Matytsin

According to Stanislav Vinogradov, most often lightning does not strike people, but buildings, trees, and tall structures. But a nearby person can also suffer: the surface of the earth will serve as a conductor for electricity, and then it will reach the legs and pierce the entire body.

Assistance to victims

The striking factors of lightning are both an electric discharge and its high temperature (up to 9500 degrees Celsius), a flash of light, and a powerful sound wave. Still not all cases of lightning strikes a person end in death, says doctor Maria Menshikova.

– In the mildest case, the victim will show symptoms such as incoordination, blackouts, hearing loss and severe headaches. With a more serious lesion, there is a loss of consciousness followed by amnesia, interruptions in the work of the heart, a violation of the sensitivity of the limbs up to paralysis and convulsions. Also, when struck by lightning and falling, injuries often occur: fractures, bleeding and concussions, the doctor notes.

Lightning can start a fire, resulting in extensive and deep burns. Special marks (Lichtenberg figures) often remain on the skin of the victim – red or pink branching lines that disappear when pressed.

“Unlike a household electrical injury, a person is not under voltage after a lightning strike, so there is no need to look for means of protection from electricity and try to “de-energize” the victim,” the doctor says. – If you provide a person with qualified assistance in a timely manner, the chance to save him increases significantly. Therefore, you must immediately call an ambulance.

Photo: RIA Novosti/Aleksey Sukhorukov

Before the arrival of medical personnel, the victim must be moved to a shelter, put in a comfortable position and covered with a blanket. In case of burns, you do not need to take off your clothes yourself. If the person is unconscious, check for breathing and feel for a pulse on the carotid artery. In their absence, it is necessary to carry out resuscitation measures: pressure with the hands on the sternum of the victim, artificial respiration “mouth to mouth” and “mouth to nose” and indirect heart massage.

– If the patient’s pulse and respiration are normal, but the patient is unconscious, apply an ammonia pad or other irritant to the nose. Do not leave the victim alone. Remember that in any case, the victim of a lightning strike must be hospitalized in order to prevent a disorder in the electrical activity of the heart, the Izvestia interlocutor emphasizes.

According to her, a very small number of people who were struck by lightning get off with fright and minor injuries. Most often, damage to the body is very extensive and has long-term consequences. Survivors have disturbed sleep, symptoms of depression, memory loss and increasing mental degradation. Hearing and vision may be significantly reduced.

Lightning attack: how to survive a thunderstorm | Articles

Three tourists were struck by lightning in the Transcarpathian region in western Ukraine. They were lucky – they survived, but there are many cases of death during a thunderstorm. Experts have not yet come to a consensus on how lightning reacts to mobile phones, they cannot predict the appearance and behavior of ball lightning. However, there are general safety rules that will allow you to protect yourself during bad weather . More details – in the material “Izvestia”.

How lightning kills

An incident with tourists in Transcarpathia took place in the area of ​​Mount Kruglya of the Borzhava Range. Lightning struck in the area of ​​one of the routes along which a group of eight people was moving. Specialists left the scene, who found the victims three hours later. Three people were sent to the village of Mezhgorye, where they were handed over to medical workers.

A resident of the village of Kunakbaevo in the Republic of Bashkortostan was caught by a thunderstorm on the beach of the Sterlya River on July 22. A 38-year-old woman died at the scene from a lightning bolt. On the same day, houses in the villages of Nagaevo, Iglino and Shaksha caught fire from a lightning strike. And at the end of June, in the same region, a resident of Sterlitamak, who was in the forest , died in the midst of bad weather. In Voronezh, a motorcyclist died from a lightning strike a week ago. The storm caught him in the field. In the Sverdlovsk region, two people died from a lightning strike at once: they took refuge from a thunderstorm in a gazebo on the lake.

Photo: Global Look Press via ZUMA Press/Biswaranjan Rout

An even worse incident occurred in India, where 11 people were killed by lightning at once – they took selfies in the rain on top of the 12th-century Amer Fort watchtower.

Are fireballs dangerous? The agency notes that

thunderstorms in the central part of the country are usually observed from May to September, and in the south almost all year round.

At the same time, there are not only ordinary linear or zigzag lightning, but also ball is a glowing orb that floats in the air above the ground and explodes on impact with any solid object.

However, this phenomenon is very rare and practically unexplored. Some scientists even believe that it is not worth being afraid of such a meeting .

Photo: RIA Novosti/Vladimir Astapkovich

“I have never seen them in my entire life, and if I saw them, I would rather be delighted, because this is a beautiful sight,” says Izvestia, candidate of physical and mathematical sciences, associate professor, Stanislav Vinogradov, lecturer at the Department of General Physics at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. Even more beautiful than dangerous.

He explained that it is not possible to repeat ball lightning in the laboratory, and it is not yet clear where they get so much energy from.

How to determine the distance to a thunderstorm

Rescuers strongly recommend checking the weather forecast before going to nature and reschedule the trip to another day if a thunderstorm is expected.

If you are already in nature, then first of all you need to determine the approximate distance to the storm front. This can be done by the time elapsed from the flash of lightning to the roll of thunder. We see light almost instantly, but sound is delayed – its speed is about 340 meters per second. Accordingly, if the thunder rumbled three seconds after the lightning, then it happened about a kilometer away from you .

“Here it must be taken into account that the calculations will be very approximate,” says Vinogradov. “Your inner sense does not accurately determine the second. In addition, in the case of lightning, it is not really about sound, but about a shock wave. But approximate calculations are possible.

Photo: Izvestia/Mikhail Tereshchenko

Another thing, the scientist notes, is that the fact that lightning struck a kilometer from your location does not mean at all that it will not strike nearby in the next second.

— It all depends on the size of the storm front — its length can be hundreds of meters, or maybe tens of kilometers, — says Vinogradov. – You need to look up: if there is heavy rain above you and the sky is completely closed, and the clouds are obviously stormy, then it can hit. If the sky is clear, then it is unlikely to reach.

The Ministry of Emergency Situations notes that the delay of thunder will also allow you to understand whether the storm front is moving away or approaching.

Why is mobile 9 dangerous?0005

Another popular belief is to turn off your smartphone during a thunderstorm. This opinion is now disputed by many scientists . By the way, the well-known children’s doctor Yevgeny Komarovsky recently stated on his YouTube channel that the information that the phone attracts lightning is a myth. And he did not expect that it was so “tightly rooted in the heads of our compatriots.”

Head of the Meteorological Department of the Moscow State University Meteorological Observatory, Candidate of Geographical Sciences Pavel Konstantinov, in turn, remarks: while he teaches students in such a way that it is not necessary to talk on the phone during a thunderstorm, as well as to catch a mobile connection at arm’s length. He noted that the phone in this situation acts as a conductor.

Photo: RIA Novosti/Kirill Kallinikov

Stanislav Vinogradov believes that doesn’t matter at all whether they are talking on the phone or not, whether it is turned on or not.

– A telephone is a piece of iron, and lightning doesn’t care if this piece of iron works or is it an umbrella or keys at all , he says. — When lightning hits an object, it rarely hits it directly. But, flying by purely by chance, it creates such a field around itself that the so-called counter leader strikes from this object in the direction of lightning and closes the channel. This piece of iron works as a seed for the counter leader, and if you raise it higher, you slightly increase the likelihood that lightning will fly nearby. Accordingly, if a piece of iron hangs on a belt or is hidden in a boot, then the likelihood of this decreases.

He stressed that itself is very unlikely to be struck by lightning, and whether the phone is working or not is completely irrelevant. The main thing is not to raise it high. At the same time, at home, the telephone, like any other technique, can be used quite calmly.

How to behave in a thunderstorm

The Ministry of Emergency Situations notes: it is urgent to take precautionary measures when lightning is immediately followed by thunder. In rural areas it is recommended to close windows, doors, chimneys and even ventilation openings. In such a situation, it is not recommended to fire up the furnace, as the high temperature gases coming out of the chimney have low resistance. You should also not talk on a landline phone, as lightning sometimes gets into the wires stretched between the poles.

In addition, do not get close to electrical wiring, lightning rods, roof drains, antennas, and do not stand near a window. Household appliances, TV – everything that works from the network – it is recommended to turn it off.

If bad weather caught you in the forest, take cover in an area with low vegetation – you should not hide near tall trees, especially pines, oaks and poplars. It is also impossible to be in a reservoir or on its shore – on the contrary, it is necessary to move away from the water and go down from an elevated place to a lowland.

Photo: TASS/Dmitry Feoktistov

As for a thunderstorm in a steppe or a field where there are no shelters ( trees standing alone – this is by no means a shelter! ), then the Ministry of Emergency Situations notices: you don’t need to lie down on the ground – you will expose your whole body to the electric current. You need to squat down in a hollow, ravine or other depression, clasping your legs with your hands.

Stop playing sports immediately and put metal objects aside . But it’s better not to get out of the car, except that you should close the windows and lower the radio antenna.

Pavel Konstantinov notes: from the point of view of a direct lightning strike, a city street is safer than a street in a rural area. However, in general, a thunderstorm in the city can be even more dangerous than in the suburbs.