Day 4 of Severe Weather Awareness Week: Lightning Safety

Today is “Lightning Safety Day,” as Severe Weather Awareness Week continues in DeKalb County and throughout the state.

One of the deadliest weather phenomena is lighting reports the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA)/Homeland Security. Each year lightning causes billions of dollars worth of damages and is one of the leading causes of weather-related deaths in the U.S.

“Regrettably, three people died as a result of lightning strikes in the state last year and at least 13 people were injured,” said DeKalb County Public Safety Director William Miller.

“Learn the basic safety rules and precautions about thunderstorms and the embedded killer called lightning. Share this knowledge with your family and friends. Don’t be caught off-guard by these storms,” urged Director Miller. “When outdoors, be aware of the most current local weather forecasts. Always stay alert for signs of approaching thunderstorms." 

Lightning strikes and threats are greatest outdoors, but did you know lighting can also enter buildings? According to GEMA/Homeland Security, lightning can travel through the ground, pipes or wires from outside and can strike floors and walls containing metal, which are the leading cause of house fires and property damage.

“Lightning is a deadly by-product of thunderstorms and has the potential to travel more than 100 miles away from a thunderstorm, yet Georgians still underestimate its threat,” said Charley English, director of GEMA/Homeland Security. “Severe Weather Awareness Week is an ideal time for residents to review lightning safety guidelines to prevent potential injuries or worse when lightning strikes.”

Here are some tips on how to prepare, plan and stay informed about lightning:

If Someone is Struck by Lightning

• People struck by lightning carry no electrical charge and can be handled safely.
• Call for help. Get someone to dial 9-1-1 or your local Emergency Medical Services (EMS) number.
• The injured person has received an electrical shock and may be burned, both where they were struck and where the electricity left their body. Check for burns in both places. Being struck by lightning can also cause nervous system damage, broken bones, and loss of hearing or eyesight.
• Give first aid. If breathing has stopped, begin rescue breathing. If the heart has stopped beating, a trained person should give CPR. If the person has a pulse and is breathing, look and care for other possible injuries. Learn first aid and CPR by taking an American Red Cross first aid and CPR course; call your local Red Cross chapter for class schedules and fees.

Before Lightning Strikes

• Keep an eye on the sky. Look for darkening skies, flashes of light, or increasing wind. Listen for the sound of thunder.
• If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning. Go to safe shelter immediately.
• Monitor NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio or television for the latest weather forecasts.

 When a Storm Approaches

• Find shelter in a building or car. Keep car windows closed and avoid convertibles.
• Telephone lines and metal pipes can conduct electricity. Unplug appliances. Avoid using the telephone or any electrical appliances. (Leaving electric lights on, however, does not increase the chances of your home being struck by lightning.)
• Avoid taking a bath or shower, or running water for any purpose.
• Turn off the air conditioner. Power surges from lightning can overload the compressor, resulting in a costly repair job.
• Draw blinds and shades over windows. If windows break due to objects blown by the wind, the shades will help prevent glass from shattering into your home.

If Caught Outside

• Find safe shelter in a building or vehicle, if possible.
• If you are in the woods and cannot find a safe shelter, take shelter under the shorter trees.
• If you are boating or swimming, get to land and find shelter immediately.

Protecting Yourself Outside

• Go to a low-lying, open place away from trees, poles, or metal objects. Make sure the place you pick is not subject to flooding.
• Be a very small target. Squat low to the ground. Place your hands on your knees with your head between them.

After the Storm Passes

• Stay away from storm-damaged areas.
• Listen to the radio or television for information and instructions.

If Someone is Struck by Lightning

• People struck by lightning carry no electrical charge and can be handled safely.
• Call for help. Get someone to dial 9-1-1.
• The injured person has received an electrical shock and may be burned, both where theywere struck and where the electricity left their body. Check for burns in both places. Being struck by lightning can also cause nervous system damage, broken bones and loss of hearing or eyesight.
• Give first aid. If breathing has stopped, begin rescue breathing. If the heart has stopped beating, a trained person should give CPR. If the person has a pulse and is breathing, look and care for other possible injuries. Learn first aid and CPR by taking an American Red Cross first-aid and CPR course; call your local Red Cross chapter for class schedules and fees.

For more information regarding lightning safety, contact DeKalb Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) at 770-270-0413 or DEMA@dekalbcountyga.gov or visit http://www.gema.ga.gov, http://www.srh.noaa.gov/ffc/ or http://www.ready.ga.gov

Tomorrow Patch will focus on Flood Safety; preparing for the number one weather-related killer.