Lighting- dangerous and fickle

Written by L. James Biddle Friday, 16 July 2010 00:00

One of the more picturesque events created by Mother Nature is also a killer topic. That paradox is lightning. While fireworks are a common form of entertainment, the fireworks of nature are extremely dangerous. 

While we cannot prevent lightning, there are some very special steps that can prevent lightning from becoming this force from creating severe injuries or becoming a killer,” stressed Newtown Square Fire Company Medical Adviser Lisa Migliori.

The suggestions offered by Newtown Square’s emergency medical leader begins with a collection of ideas that deal with safety steps when caught in the open during a thunderstorm.  If light lightning is witnessed, begin to watch for storm progress and plan where to go for proper shelter.  Don’t wait.

Not all storms are predictable.  Lightning, in some instances, seems to arrive immediately.  The body can provide some very important indicators.  EMT Instructor Migliori explained, “For example, if the hair on your head or neck begins to stand on end it is time to react almost instantly.  Get down on your hands and knees. Avoid full body contact with the ground.”

Migliori added, “If there is no nearby shelter, find the lowest possible spot and assume the ‘all fours’ posture until the danger has passed.”

In a list of “never-do activities,” do not lie down and never seek shelter under a tree. In explaining these dangers, Newtown Square’s Migliori explain, “If you lie down, the heart and head are close to the ground. These two body parts are the keys to life. Keeping them off the ground helps prevent damage to these two body parts.”

Describing the dangers of being near a tree, she added, “If lightning strikes a tree, the heat of the lightning bolt can cause the natural moisture in the tree to turn to steam and propel fatal wood fragment into the body.  The fickleness of lightning could cause the force of the lightning to jump to the person seeking shelter under the tree.”

If golfing, taking off shoes with metal, grounding spikes and move as far from golf clubs as possible. The spikes are felt to be ground contact items the metal content of golf clubs create a potential lightning attraction.

The dangers of lightning have been judged to be very dangerous.  In several states, high school sporting events must cease at the first notice of lightning and these events must not resume until the sky displays no lightning for a minimum 30-minute time span. 

Storms that spawn lightning are far from predictable. Because of this pattern-less behavior, the alternative is to get away from storms and the lightning of these storms.  As the Newtown Square Fire Company continually stresses, “Prevention is a great tool to provide safety.”

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