Lightning Policies & Procedures
Woodside Priory School
Department of Athletics
Lightning Safety Guidelines
November 2004 (updated 9/05, 10/06)
Lightning is the most consistent weather hazard that may affect athletic
events. While practice and training increase recreation performance, preparedness
can reduce the risk of the lightning hazard. Prevention and education
are the keys to lightning safety. The following guidelines are in place
at Woodside Priory School (WPS) in order to protect our student-athletes.
Chain of Command / Responsibility for Removing Athletes-
The responsibility for removing athletes from the practice/game area lies
with the head coach of the particular sport.
* If the head coach is not present, an assistant coach will assume responsibility.
* A WPS athletic trainer and/or a SJSU intern athletic trainer will advise
the head coach and/or his/her designee.
Any dispute on the suspension of practice/ competition should be directed
to Mark Stogner, the WPS Athletic Director, or Doug Sargent, the Middle
School Athletic Director.
Criteria For Evacuation of the Practice/Game Area-
The policy of the Woodside Priory School Department of Athletic Training
will be as follows:
The WPS staff and/or intern athletic trainer will inform the visiting
team���s athletic trainer and/or coach and game / event officials of WPS���s
policy with regards to lightning during pre-game warm-ups;
The WPS staff and/or intern athletic trainer will monitor the storm, will
watch for lightning and listen for thunder, and will be responsible for
keeping track of the ���flash / bang��� count**;
When the ���flash/bang��� count reaches 40 seconds or less the WPS staff athletic
trainer will notify the following persons-
* The head coach and/or his/her designee;
* The visiting team���s athletic trainer and/or coach (if applicable)
* The game official (at a break in the action);
At this point, all game / practice activities are to cease immediately,
and ALL personnel are to evacuate to a safe structure or location.
Safe Structure-
A safe structure or location is defined as- ���any sturdy, fully enclosed,
substantial, and frequently inhabited building that has plumbing and/or
electrical wiring that acts to electrically ground the structure���.
In the absence of a safe structure as described above, a secondary structure
such as a fully enclosed vehicle with a hard metal roof, rubber tires,
and completely closed windows can provide a measure of safety. Persons
should not touch the sides of the vehicle!
Persons should avoid taking showers and using plumbing facilities and
land-line telephones during a thunderstorm.
If no safe structure or location is within a reasonable distance, personnel
should find a thick grove of small trees surrounded by taller trees or
a dry ditch. Everyone should assume the ���lightning-safe��� position- a crouched
position on the ground with the feet together, weight on the balls of
the feet, head lowered, and ears covered. DO NOT LIE FLAT! Minimize the
body���s surface area and minimize contact with the ground.
If unable to reach safe shelter, persons should stay away from the tallest
trees or objects, metal objects, individual trees, standing pools of water,
and open fields. Persons should avoid being the highest object in an open
field.
In situations where thunder and/or lightning may or may not be present,
yet someone feels his/her hair stand on end and skin tingle, LIGHTNING
IS IMMINENT! Therefore, all persons should assume the ���lightning-safe���
position as described above.
A cellular phone is a safe alternative to land-line phones, if the person
and the antenna are located within a safe structure or location, and if
all other precautions are followed.
All individuals should have the right to leave a site or activity, without
fear of repercussion or penalty, in order to seek a safe structure or
location if they feel that they are in danger from impending lightning
activity.
Criteria For Safe Return to the Practice/Game Area-
Personnel should not return to the practice/game area until thirty (30)
minutes have passed since the last lightning flash or the last sound of
thunder. Each time lightning is observed and/or thunder is heard, the
���30-minute clock��� is to be reset.
Blue skies in the local area and/or a lack of rainfall are not adequate
reasons to breach the 30-minute return-to-play rule. Lightning can strike
up to ten (10) miles away from the rainshaft of a storm.
Prehospital Care of Victims of a Lightning Strike-
Because lightning-strike victims do not remain connected to a power source,
they do not carry an electric charge. Therefore, it is safe to touch the
victim to move him/her to a safe location and to render medical treatment.
During an ongoing thunderstorm, lightning activity in the local area still
poses a deadly hazard for personnel responding to the victim. Personnel
should consider his/ her own personal safety before venturing into a dangerous
situation to render care.
The first priority of personnel is to move the lightning strike victim
to a safe location.
Prompt, aggressive CPR has been highly effective for the survival of victims
of lightning strikes. Therefore, it is critical that CPR and AED use is
initiated as soon as safely possible.
Lightning strike victims should be evaluated and treated for hypothermia,
shock, fractures, and burns as well.
The ���Flash / Bang��� Method-
This is a simple method used to estimate how far away a lightning flash
is:
Begin timing (in seconds) as soon as a lightning flash is seen; stop timing
as soon as a thunder sound is heard after the lightning flash. This number
is the ���flash/bang��� count. Divide the ���flash/bang��� count by five (5) the
resulting number is the distance, in miles, from the practice/game area
to the lightning flash.
References:
Nation Collegiate Athletic Association. (2003). Guideline 1D: Lightning
Safety. NCAA Sports Medicine Handbook, 12-14.
National Lightning Safety Institute. Available at:
http://www.lightningsafety.com/nlsi_pls/ncaa.cfm
Walsh, K.M. et. al (2001). National Athletic Trainers��� Association Position
Statement: Lightning Safety for Athletics & Recreation. Journal of
Athletic Training, 35, 471-477.