Lightning safety: Take precautions to stay safe

Lightning can be very dangerous, killing dozens of people in the U.S. every year. The National Weather Service says there is a 1-in-3,000 chance that you will be hit by lightning in your lifetime. By following simple safety rules, you can avoid the danger of nature's light show and enjoy its beauty instead.

If you’re outdoors: Avoid water. Avoid the high ground. Avoid open spaces. Keep an eye at the sky. Look for darkening skies, flashes of lightning or increasing winds. It doesn’t matter if it’s raining or if you have an umbrella; if you’re outdoors and thunder roars, it’s time to go indoors. Avoid all metal objects, including electric wires, fences, machinery, motors and power tools. If you’re playing an outdoor activity, wait at least 30 minutes after the last observed lightning strike or thunder. Don’t take shelter underneath canopies or small picnic or rain shelters or in areas near trees.

If you’re indoors : Avoid water. Stay away from doors and windows. Take off headsets. Water is a great conductor of electricity, so do not take a shower, wash your hands, wash dishes or do laundry. Do not use a corded or landline telephone because lightning may strike outside phone lines. Turn off, unplug and stay away from appliances, computers, power tools and TV sets. Lightning may strike exterior electric and phone lines, inducing shocks to inside equipment.

If someone is struck by lightning : People who are struck by lightning don’t carry an electrical charge and can be handled safely. Call 911 or send for help immediately. Apply first aid if you are qualified to do so. People who have been hit by lightning can have damage to their nervous systems, so it’s important to seek medical care if struck.

For more on how to stay safe from lightning, visit ready.gov.

Be on alert for summer storms

If you live on the East Coast, you may have been caught up in some severe thunderstorms this week. In fact, much of the country has been experiencing storms lately.

Thunderstorms can happen at any time, but are particularly frequent in the summer. Severe storms can bring heavy rain, high winds, hail, lightning and flooding.

Ready.gov advises that you be prepared for storms and stay safe by following these tips:

• Begin preparing ahead of time by putting together an emergency kit and making a family communications plan.
• Secure outdoor objects that can be blown away or can cause any injury or damage.
• Shut all windows and secure outside doors.
• Limit outdoor activities.
• Unplug electronic equipment before the storm.

During the storm, following these tips can help you keep safe:

• Listen to local news or the radio for emergency updates. Watch for signs of a storm, such as darkening skies, lightning flashes or increasing winds.
• Keep away from electrical equipment, wiring and water pipes.
• Stay away from water sources.
• Stay indoors, says the American Red Cross. If outside, seek protection and get low — don’t be the tallest object in the area! Also, stay away from trees.

There’s also a good chance that the power will go out during a severe storm. To be prepared for a power outage, download and print our fact sheet now and save it with your emergency supplies.

Pledge to be a force of nature

Are you a force of nature? The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration want to help you become one. That’s why they created National Severe Weather Preparedness Week. Held annually each spring, the week encourages people to help their family, friends and community prepare for severe weather.

While the week is over, the lessons it shares are good year-round. The campaign aims to get people to understand what to do before, during and after severe weather. There are three simple steps that anyone can do to get ready for weather events such as tornadoes, hurricanes and other dangerous storms:

1. Know your risk. Figure out which kinds of severe weather can happen where you live and work, so you can make a plan to get ready for these events.
2. Take the pledge. Be a force of nature by taking the Pledge to Prepare at Ready.gov.
3. Be an example. Once you take the pledge and start preparing, share your story with your family and friends. Tweet about it, write a Facebook post, make a YouTube video. By showing people that preparedness is something that anyone can do, you’ll inspire others to get ready, too!

We want to know how you plan to be a force of nature, so tell us what you do to prepare for severe weather in the comments below!

 

Summer Safe: It’s Lightning Safety Awareness Week

Lightning can happen at any time of year, but did you know that summer is the peak season for deadly lightning strikes? That’s why the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has declared June 24-30 Lightning Safety Awareness Week.

According to NOAA, dozens of people die and hundreds are injured every year when they are hit by lightning. But these incidents are largely preventable with just a few tips:

1. When thunder roars, go indoors! If you can hear thunder from a storm, it means you are also in striking distance of lightning; you should go indoors immediately.
2. Get somewhere safe. A safe shelter is a building with at roof and sides, such as a house, school, shopping mall, grocery store or office building. A hard-topped vehicle is also safe, but you’re not protected in motorcycles, open vehicles such as Jeeps or golf carts. 
3. If someone around you is stuck by lightning: Call 911 immediately. Lightning victims will not electrocute you, so they are safe to touch. Be prepared to start CPR or use an automated external defibrillator if the person does not have a pulse.

Pretty simple, right? Preparedness doesn’t get much easier!

For more information about lightning safety, check out NOAA’s new YouTube video.