Union County College

Lightning Policy

Lightning Quick Facts:

• Lightning is an electrical spark closing a circuit between the charge that builds up in a storm cloud and the ground.
• Most persons are unaware that once a storm moves within ten miles of their location, because of the overhanging cloud, the storm can generate lightning that can kill or injure, even while that person is in bright sunshine.
• A significant fraction of the roughly 200 lightning fatalities each year occur not only in sunshine, but just after a downpour or light drizzle.
• Too many people rely on their hearing to warn of an approaching storm when the average audible range of thunder is only 3 to 5 miles.
• Lightning bolts announce themselves as a "burst of white noise" that occur primarily under a frequency of one megahertz.
• The average lightning bolt is 6 miles long and most thunderstorms move at 25 miles per hour. Lightning can strike from as far away as 10 miles or more.
• While it is true that lightning often strikes the highest feature, it is not a requirement. Electricity, like water, flows from the highest potential to the lowest through the path of least resistance. This path is normally the shortest route between the two electrical potentials.
• Unless the lightning bolt is coming straight down from above, you may be a shorter distance for the bolt to travel than the most prominent point.

Lightning is a dangerous phenomenon. Athletic teams that practice and compete outdoors are at risk when the weather is inclement. The athletic trainer has developed a lightning safety policy to minimize the risk of injury from a lightning strike to Union County College athletes, coaches, support staff, and fans. To monitor lightning, the athletic trainer will utilize both the flash to Bang Method and a Sky Scan Lightning/Storm Detector.

General Policy: The athletic trainer or athletic administrator will monitor the weather and make the decision to notify the head coach or officials of dangerous situations and recommend the suspension of activity in the event of lightning. Exceptions will be made for any activity where the athletic trainer or athletic administrator is not in attendance, whereby the supervising coach will have the ability to suspend activity. The decision to suspend activity will be based on:

1. Two subsequent readings on the Sky Scan Lightning Detector in the 3-8 mile range regardless of the presence of visible lightning (this device is portable and will be in the possession of the athletic trainer, athletic administrator, or supervising coach).

2. Utilization of the Flash-To-Bang Method (count the seconds from the time the lightning is sighted to when the clap of thunder is heard). Divide this number by five to obtain how far away (in miles) the lightning is occurring. If it reveals lightning to be within 6 miles (a 30 second count between flash of lighting and bang of thunder) activity is to be suspended and everyone should seek shelter immediately.

Table of Contents

I. Chain of Command

II. Means of Monitoring Weather

III. Safe Locations from a Lightning Hazard

IV. Unsafe Locations from a Lightning Hazard

V. If No Safe Location is Available

VI. Suspension and Resumption of Athletic Activities

VII. Obligation to Warn

VIII. Lightning Strike Victim Care

I. Chain of Command:

• The responsibility for removing athletes from a practice/scrimmage area due to the threat of lightning lies with the head coach of that particular sport.
• In the event the head coach is not present, an assistant coach designated by the head coach will assume responsibility.
• In the event neither the head coach nor designee is present, the athletic trainer or athletic administrator will assume responsibility.
• The athletic trainer or athletic administrator present will be responsible for monitoring the weather and advising the head coach or his/her designee on the situation.
• The responsibility for removing athletes from a game area due to the threat of lightning lies with the official, referee, or umpire in charge.
• It is the responsibility of the athletic trainer or athletic administrator to inform the official, referee, or umpire in charge and the visiting team’s head coach of the lightning policy
• It is also the responsibility of the athletic trainer or administrator present to monitor the weather and advise the official, referee, or umpire in charge on the situation

II. Means of Monitoring the Weather:

• UCC has a portable Sky Scan lightning detector for use during athletic practices and games.
• Flash/Bang Method: Count the number of seconds which pass between a lightning strike (flash) and the following sound of thunder (bang). Take the number of seconds between flash and bang then divide by five, the resulting number is the approximate distance, in miles, from the practice/game area to the lightning flash.

III. Safe Locations from Lighting:

• Any fully enclosed, substantial building; ideally with plumbing, electrical wiring and telephone service which aid in grounding the building.
• If a substantial building is not available, a fully enclosed vehicle with a metal roof and the windows completely enclosed is a reasonable alternative.
• Cellular or cordless telephones should be used for summoning help during a thunderstorm. They are a reasonably safer alternative to land-line telephones.

Soccer/Baseball—Nomahegan Park

• Do NOT remain in the dugout or on the benches.

• The closest and safest shelter is inside a fully enclosed vehicle.
• In the event of potentially bad weather, a member of the coaching staff will drive a UCC van to the field for shelter.

Golf

• Become familiar with the course beforehand, find a safe location.

IV. Unsafe Locations from a Lightning Hazard:

• Small structures such as rain or picnic shelters or athletic storage sheds should be avoided during thunderstorms.
• Convertible vehicles and golf carts do not provide a high level of protection and cannot be considered safe from lightning.
• Locker-room shower areas, swimming pools (indoor and outdoor), land-line telephones and electrical appliances are also unsafe due to the possible contact with current carrying conduction.

V. If No Safe Location is Available:

• Find a thick grove of small trees surrounded by taller trees or a dry ditch.
• Stay away from the tall trees or objects (ex: light poles or flag poles), metal objects (ex: fences or bleachers), individual trees, standing pools of water, and open fields.
• Assume a crouched position on the ground with only the balls of your feet touching the ground, head lowered and cover your ears. DO NOT LIE FLAT!
• A person who feels his/her hair stand on end or skin tingle should immediately assume the position described above.

VI. Suspension and Resumption of Athletic Activity:

• Suspension of athletic activity should occur when lightning is within six miles or the Flash/Bang ratio reaches thirty (30) seconds.
• Flash/Bang can be used in conjunction with the lightning detector, if available, and local weather reports to make a sound decision.
• Resumption of athletic activity will not occur until thirty (30) minutes AFTER the last bolt of lightning is seen or sound of thunder is heard.

VII. Obligation to Warn:

According to a basic principle of tort law, an individual has a duty to warn others of dangers that may not be obvious to a guest of that person. In the event an activity will be suspended, the athletic department staff (athletic administrator, athletic trainer, head coach) will make an announcement warning all individuals in the area (i.e. spectators, visiting team, officials, etc.) to take shelter in a safe location. Signs will also be posted near the dugouts and bleachers to warn individuals of inclement weather.

VIII. Lightning Strike Victim Care:

• Activate the emergency action plan.
• Lightning strike victims do not carry a charge and are safe to assess.
• The first rule of CPR, make sure the scene is safe, applies as well. If need be, move the victim to a safe location.
• It has been demonstrated that there is a high success rate of resuscitating lightning strike victims using CPR. Thus, it is imperative to treat the “apparently dead” first by promptly initiating CPR.
• Secondary survey should include evaluating and treating these common injuries from lightning strikes: hypothermia, shock, fractures, and burns.

Information taken from the NCAA Sports Medicine Handbook, the NCAA Championships Severe Weather Policy, and the National Athletic Trainers Association Position Statement.

6/13/08