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Lightning Safety For Scouts

Lightning poses a significant hazard to scouts during their camping and outdoor activities. This training program aims to provide education and guidelines on lightning safety to protect scouts from potential dangers.

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Lightning Safety For Scouts

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  1. Lightning SafetyFor Scouts

  2. Purpose Lightning Safety Training and Education is a must…

  3. More Education is Needed for our Leaders and our Scouts Overview • LIGHTNING IS A SIGNIFICANT HAZARD !!! • Scouting Lightning Hazards are real… • LIGHTNING SAFETY GROUP RECOMMENDATIONS • CALL TO ACTION

  4. Lightning -- Significant Hazards • LIGHTNING: Is the Underrated Killer • #2 Storm Killer In U.S. • More Than Tornadoes and Hurricanes Combined • Life-Long Debilitating Injury On Many More Than It Kills • Kills ~73 individuals / Year and Injures over 1,000 / Year In U.S. • $5 Billion Economic Impact Each Year In U.S. • Yet Lightning Safety Receives • Surprisingly Little Attention!

  5. Radio and Radio Equipment(1%) Trees & Fences (2%) Open Fields (Includes Fields in Campsites & Sports Fields)(45%) Telephone(4%) Farm andHeavy Equipment(5%) Under Trees(23%) Water(Swimming,boating,fishing)(14%) Golf(6%) Scouting Lightning Hazards Camping Activities can put Scouts at Risk! Lightning Casualties In U.S. (1959-2005)(National Severe Storms Laboratory)

  6. Scouting Lightning Hazards • Scouting Activities can put Scouts at Risk! • Open Fields(45%) • Sports Fields • Campgrounds • Outdoor Activities • Water Sports Activities • Other Concerns: • Metal Bleachers! • Long Metal Fences! • Power Lines

  7. Scouting Lightning Hazards • Under Trees (23%) of Lightning Strikes occur at an Outdoor Activity

  8. Scouting Lightning Hazards • Water Related (14%) • Swimming • Indoor Pools Too! • Boating

  9. Scouting Lightning Hazards • Scouting Activities can put Scouts At Risk! • Golf (6%) • Hiking in Patrols • Heavy Equipment (5%) • Grounds Keepers • Telephone (4%) • Everyone!

  10. Scouting Lightning Hazards • Scouting Activities Can Put Scouts at Risk! Scouts have to be aware of Rising Lightning Casualty Rates Education is key to survival and response… • Don’t “Tough It Out”! • Do • Postpone Or Cancel Event • Prevent Scout Lives and Life-Long Crippling Injuries • Being Safe is:More Important Than A Game! NO!

  11. The Highest Lightning Rate is in the U.S. is the South East Region and Mid-West Region • But Allplaces have some Lightning Risk! Scouting Lightning Hazards

  12. Recommendations • THERE ARE MANY LIGHTNING SAFETY GROUPS • TO GATHER CRITICAL INFORMATION • 16 Lightning Experts From Diverse Disciplines • National Labs • Universities • Operational Meteorology • Medicine • Industry • Safety • Insurance • Education • Athletics • Our primary GOAL is: To provide consistent and correct information about Lightning Safety Guidelines through education and training programs

  13. Recommendations (con’t.) • Follow Safety Guidelines • Safer And Unsafe Locations (Develop signage and post on Certified Safe Buildings…) • Train Individuals • Train Small Groups • Train Large Groups • Follow specific action training components provided. Take the Lightning Safety Course; (age appropriate) and complete the Lightning Safety Quiz Upon completion a Certification Card will be presented” • Learn First Aid For Lightning Victims

  14. Recommendations (con’t.) • People Don’t Realize the Long Distances Lightning Can Strike • Lightning Strikes an average of 3 Nautical Miles (NM) in Distance • A ‘Bolt From the Blue’ ~ up to 15 NM- “this is not uncommon” • Ground Strikes ~ up to 60 NM-have been documented from Anvil (this is a Rare Distance) • People Don’t Realize the Length of Time Lightning Can Strike • Debris Cloud has documented that a Ground Strike has occurred 75 minutes after the Thunderstorm has decayed …

  15. No Place Outside Is Safe Near A Thunderstorm! Recommendations (con’t.)

  16. 30 30 30 30 Recommendations (con’t.) Important Points • Use ‘30-30 Rule’ To Determine If Lightning Is A Threat • If 30 Secs Or Less “Flash To Bang”, Seek Proper Shelter • Back-Up Rule (if you can’t see the lightning): If You Can Hear Thunder, Seek Proper Shelter • Wait 30 Min Or More After Last Thunder, Before Leaving Proper Shelter • Most Casualties Occur Before, and especially After, Thunderstorms • 30-30 Rule May Seem Too Conservative -- It’s Not!

  17. 30 30 Recommendations (con’t.) Some Important Points For Scouters • Use Lightning Notification Services when appropriate. • Check the weather while planning your trip, “Be Prepared”. • Use National Lightning Detection Network Data • Use Automatic Notification Systems when Lightning is within various distances of an Event Site / Time • Units are encouraged to purchase small weather radios and monitor the weather as best as you can- stay informed. Listen to the Weather Station on your Weather Radio) • Have a Notification System in place when ‘All Clear’ • Need To Watch The Skies And React Appropriately

  18. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Lightning Certified Facilities Lightning Protected Buildings Relative Lightning Protection Outdoors Recommendations (con’t.) • Seek Proper Shelter • Buildings are much better than vehicles • Vehicles Offer Some Safety • No Place Outside is Safe – Know the safety position and stay away from tall trees

  19. Recommendations (con’t.) • Once in Proper ShelterAvoid • Conducting Paths to: • Outside Telephones (corded) • Electrical Appliances / (unshielded wiring) • TVs, VCRs, And TV Cables • Computers • Light Switches • Electrical Outlets • Plumbing: showers, sinks, restrooms • Pools (indoor and outdoor) • Don’t Watch Lightning from Windows / Doorways • Inner Rooms Are Better

  20. No Guidance 100% Guaranteed Against Lightning, But These Recommendations Can Avoid Most Casualties! Recommendations (con’t.)

  21. Courtesy of National Lightning Safety Institute Recommendations (con’t.) Some Important Pointers For Scouters • First Aid For Lightning • Call 91 • Apply CPR / Mouth To Mouth Resuscitation • All Deaths From Cardiac Arrest / Stopped Breathing • Myth: • Lightning Victim Can Electrocute You • 90% Survive -- Give The First Aid • Beware Downed Live Wires!

  22. NNJC is concerned for all Scouters • Every unit is requested to implement a Lightning Safety Plan and use the training provided. • The primary Goal is to Protect Scouts and Staff • 2) Continuing Education & Training Program is a must. • Teach Your Scouts And Staff How to help protect themselves outdoors and Outside of Scouting • 3) Scout Education programs have been developed to ensure your safety. • Help Your Community Protect Itself • Generate Support For Scouting by being safe and knowledgeable in a lightning storm.

  23. NNJC is concerned for all Scouters • Involve everyone; Scouting Professionals, Scout Leaders and Senior Scouts need to be involved training • Integrate and Implement a Lightning Safety Plan which is age appropriate, dynamic and entertaining • Have Support Materials “Prepared” (Brochures and magnets) samples are available and ready for Distribution • Publish “A Guide to Lightning Safety Resource Manual”, are your Scouts prepared? • Take the Lightning safety Quiz and Get Lightning Safety Certified” • The online quiz will have a direct link to submit your completion and a training card will be sent to you.

  24. Summary • Lightning is an Extremely Significant Hazard • Far Too Often Underrated • Lightning Safety Education can Help Scouts improve their Lightning Safety skills… • All Scouters must Play A Vital Role! • Implement a Lightning Safety Plan • Educate everyone on Lightning Safety • Bring Lighting Safety to the Public • Education is Key to saving a Life…

  25. Lightning Safety HANDOUTS! • Questions? • Want To Do Lightning Safety? • Send requests to • Daniel E. Stryker • dan@gainsllc.com • (201 247-0277)

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