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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BURLINGTON VT
705 AM EDT FRI JUN 26 2009
..LIGHTNING AWARENESS WEEK - LIGHTNING MYTHS VS. FACTS
LIGHTNING IS THE SECOND DEADLIEST NATURAL DISASTER IN THE
UNITED STATES WITH AN AVERAGE OF 62 DEATHS AND HUNDREDS OF
INJURIES ANNUALLY. LIGHTNING RELATED INJURIES CAN RESULT IN
LIFE-LONG PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DISABILITIES THAT CHANGES AN
INDIVIDUALS LIFE AS WELL AS THEIR FAMILIES FOREVER.
IF SOMEONE IS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THEY
RECEIVE THE APPROPRIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY. LIGHTNING
VICTIMS DO NOT CARRY AN ELECTRICAL CHARGE AND ARE SAFE TO HANDLE.
FIRST...HAVE SOMEONE CALL 9-1-1 OR YOUR LOCAL RESCUE SERVICE.
CHECK TO SEE IF THE VICTIM IS BREATHING AND HAS A PULSE AND
CONTINUE TO MONITOR UNTIL HELP ARRIVES. CARDIAC ARREST IS THE
IMMEDIATE CAUSE OF DEATH IN MOST LIGHTNING FATALITIES, IF
NECESSARY BEGIN CPR. ALSO, IF POSSIBLE MOVE THE VICTIM TO A
SAFER LOCATION.
LIGHTNING RELATED CASUALTIES CAN BE EASILY AVOIDED BY KNOWING
WHAT TO DO IF A THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES.
THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME WELL KNOWN LIGHTNING MYTHS COMPARED WITH
ACTUAL LIGHTNING FACTS.
MYTH: LIGHTNING NEVER STRIKES TWICE IN THE SAME PLACE.
FACT: LIGHTNING OFTEN STRIKES THE SAME PLACE...IF IT/S A TALL
ISOLATED OBJECT.
MYTH: IF IT/S NOT RAINING...THEN I/M SAFE FROM LIGHTNING.
MYTH: LIGHTNING CAN'T STRIKE IF CLOUDS AREN'T OVERHEAD.
FACT: LIGHTNING "OFTEN" STRIKES OVER THREE MILES AWAY FROM THE
RAIN CORE AND IN SOME CASES STRIKES 10 TO 15 MILES AWAY
FROM THE THUNDERSTORM.
MYTH: A LIGHTING VICTIM IS ELECTRIFIED AND YOU/LL BE ELECTROCUTED
BY CONTACTING THEM.
FACT: THE HUMAN BODY DOES NOT STORE ELECTRICITY. IF A PERSON
BECOMES UNCONSCIUOUS AND IS NOT BREATHING...THEN THEY/RE
LIKELY SUFFERING FROM CARDIAC ARREST. IMMEDIATE APPLICATION
OF CPR AND CALLING FOR MEDICAL HELP COULD SAVE A LIFE.
MYTH: A LIGHTNING STRIKE MEANS INSTANT DEATH AND A BURNED BODY.
FACT: ONLY 10 PERCENT OF LIGHTNING VICTIMS DIE. MEANWHILE FOR THE
LIGHTNING SURVIVORS...70 PERCENT SUFFER LIFE-LONG MEDICAL
PROBLEMS AND 30 PERCENT ARE DEBILITATING AND CAN/T WORK.
LIGHTNING WILL OFTEN LEAVE A SMALL SURFACE BURN...NOT A
BURNED BODY.
MYTH: RUBBER TIRES PROTECT YOU FROM LIGHTNING WHILE IN A VEHICLE.
FACT: MOST CARS ARE REASONABLY SAFE FROM LIGHTNING BUT NOT FROM
THE RUBBER TIRES...BUT RATHER THE METAL ROOF AND SIDES OF
THE VEHICLE. THEREFORE...COVERTIBLES...MOTORCYCLES...
BICYCLES AND VEHICLES WITH PLASTIC OR FIBERGLASS SHELLS
OFFER NO LIGHTNING PROTECTION.
MYTH: IF LIGHTING IS ABOUT TO STRIKE...LIE FLAT ON THE GROUND.
FACT: THIS ADVICE IS OUTDATED. THE BEST THING IS TO USE THE
LIGHTNING CROUCH...PUT YOUR FEET TOGETHER...SQUAT LOW...
TUCK YOUR HEAD AND COVER YOUR EARS.
MYTH: WHEN PLAYING SPORTS AND THUNDERSTORMS THREATEN...WAIT TO
FINISH THE GAME BEFORE FINDING SHELTER.
FACT: SPORTS ACTIVITIES IS THE FASTEST RISING RATE OF LIGHTNING
CASUALTIES. IF THUNDERSTORMS THREATEN...SEEK SAFE SHELTER
UPON WITNESSING DARKENING SKIES...HEARING THUNDER OR
FOLLOWING THE 30/30 RULE.
HOPEFULLY THE SAFETY INFORMATION PROVIDED HAS IMPROVED YOUR
UNDERSTANDING OF THE DANGERS OF LIGHTNING AND YOU WILL TAKE
PROTECTIVE ACTIONS IN THE FUTURE.
ADDITIONAL LIGHTNING INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET
AT WWW.LIGHTNINGSAFETY.NOAA.GOV.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO PREVIOUS BULLETINS.
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