Lightning Safety Outdoors
The Single Most Dangerous Place
Being out-of-doors is the most dangerous place to be during a lightning storm. It puts you and your loved ones at increased and unnecessary risk. When lightning is seen or thunder is heard, or when dark clouds are observed, quickly move indoors or into a hard-topped vehicle and remain there until well after the lightning storm ends. Listen to forecasts and warnings from your local National Weather Service Office through NOAA Weather Radio and other sources. If lightning storms are forecast, have in mind an alternate plan for the day's activities or know where you can take cover quickly.
Lightning Doesn't Take A Vacation
The lightning "season" in the United States corresponds closely with the traditional summer vacation. Holiday periods during the summer such as near the Fourth of July are historically among the most deadly. Throughout the summer, a lot more people are exposed to the deadly effects of lightning in such locations as the beach, the golf course, the mountains, or on a ball field. During the summer lightning season, outdoor jobs such as those in construction and agriculture, and outdoor chores such as lawn mowing or house painting are at their peak, putting those involved in danger. This is highlighted by the fact that there are three times as many males struck by lightning.
Stay Away From Trees and Water
Although anywhere outdoors involves risk during a lightning storm, certain locations are more vulnerable then others. These include: near the water, such as when involved in boating, fishing or just lying on the beach; near trees, such as on the golf course or near picnic grounds; on high places such as house roofs during construction or working on antennae; in other open areas, such as a farmer's field or hiking trail; near vehicles or planes such as police, airport baggage handlers and heavy equipment operators.
When People Congregate
A particularly dangerous situation is when people congregate such as at a sporting event or concert. The potential for multiple casualties with a closely gathered group of people is great.
A single lightning strike can kill several people who are either in physical contact with one another or are in close enough proximity that the strike can spread out over the ground. This includes spectators sitting on the same bleacher seat or football players in a huddle. School children are particularly vulnerable when at recess, at phys. ed., at band, football and baseball practice, and walking in groups to and from school.
Safety Rules
- Go quickly inside a completely enclosed building, not a carport, open garage, covered patio, or an open window
- If no enclosed building is convenient, get inside a hard-topped all-metal vehicle
- Do not take shelter under a tree.
- If there is no shelter, avoid being the tallest object in the area. If only isolated trees are nearby, crouch on the balls of your feet in the open, keeping twice as far away from a tree as it is tall.
- Avoid leaning against vehicles. Get off bicycles and motorcycles
- Get out of the water...off the beach and out of small boats or canoes. If caught in a boat, crouch down in the center of the boat away from metal hardware. Avoid standing in puddles of water, even if wearing rubber boots.
- Avoid open spaces, wire fences, metal clothes lines, exposed sheds and electrically conductive elevated objects.
- Do not use metal objects like golf clubs, fishing rods, tennis rackets or tools
- Do not work on fences, telephone or power lines, pipelines, or steel fabrications
- Stop tractor work and heavy construction equipment, especially when pulling metal equipment, and dismount. Do not seek shelter under the equipment.
- Avoid congregating in groups. Do not hold hands with others and space yourself several yards from one another.
Becoming familiar with outdoor lightning safety rules can save your life or that of a loved one.