Atmospheric Physics Research

at The University of Mississippi

LIGHTNING SAFETY

Disclaimer: The purpose of these safety tips is to help make people aware of some of the dangers associated with lightning. The information provided does not include all lightning dangers, and individuals need to take responsibility for their own safety. Because of the unpredicatble nature of lightning,
neither the authors of this web page nor the University of Mississippi
can guarantee that the information given below will provide complete protection.

The most common activities associated with lightning strike accidents involving people are:

    1. Working or playing in open or semi-open areas.
    2. Boating, fishing, or swimming.
    3. Operating farm machinery or road-making equipment.
    4. Seeking shelter under trees.
    5. Talking on the telephone inside a structure.
    6. Using electrical appliances.

What to do if you are caught in the open during a thunderstorm:

1. If you see lightning flashes and if there are less than 30 seconds between when you see a flash and when you hear its thunder,

STAY AWARE OF THE SITUATION AND

PLAN WHERE YOU WILL SEEK SHELTER!

2. If you see nearby lightning flashes or if there are less than about 15 seconds between when you see a flash and when you hear its thunder,
GO INSIDE THE NEAREST BUILDING IMMEDIATELY!

3. If the hair on your head or neck begins to stand on end,
CROUCH DOWN IMMEDIATELY AND
SQUAT ON THE BALLS OF YOUR FEET!

4. If no nearby shelter is available,
FIND THE LOWEST POSSIBLE SPOT THAT
YOU CAN READILY GET TO AND
CROUCH DOWN THERE UNTIL THE DANGER PASSES!

DO NOT LIE DOWN!
DO NOT STAND UNDER OR NEAR A TREE!

Treatment of Lightning Strike Victims:
Note that people who have been struck by lightning are not dangerous to touch.

   1. Check breathing and pulse, because lightning often causes these to stop.
   2. Treat victims that are not breathing FIRST.
   3. Perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, if needed.
   4. Apply cardiopulmonary resuscitation, if needed.

Some useful links on lightning safety:

Personal Lightning Safety Tips from the National Lightning Safety Institute

This brief list gives the basic safety information that everyone should know.

Recommendations of the Lightning Safety Group, 1998

This detailed document was drafted under the auspices of the American Meteorological Society. It has been published in the October 1999 issue of the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, viewable from http://ams.allenpress.com/.

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Last updated 23 August 2000. Maribeth Stolzenburg.