Monday, April 24, 2006

Lightning safety between the lines

By Ted Buehner

Western Washington thunderstorms may be infrequent when compared to much of the country. Yet, as a result, our thunderstorms are more dangerous since we do not have thunderstorm proficiency. We lack lightning experience and are unaware of what steps to take when a thunderstorm approaches.

In Washington state, lightning causes an average of one fatality every three years and several injuries each year. Many of these lightning incidents are preventable. Most occur in open spaces and athletic venues, including ballparks.

A list of lightning safety tips are below. The bottom line - if you can hear thunder, you can be struck by lightning. Here's another rule of thumb, if you feel uncomfortable as a thunderstorm approaches, get everyone to shelter now. It is better to be safe than sorry.

If a threat of thunderstorms is in your game day forecast, have the threat of lightning in the back of your mind. During your contest, work with your partner(s) in monitoring threatening conditions.

Here is personal story. I was working a college game at Clark College in Vancouver in the early 1990s. Game time was noon and it was a cool unstable mid April day. Thunderstorms were in the forecast and coaches were made aware of the threat at the plate meeting. By the top of the third, a thunderstorm was moving across the west hills of Portland toward our ballpark. When the third out was made, the towers of the nearby Interstate Bridge were disappearing in a veil of rain. I told both teams to stay in their concrete dugouts. The coaches had doubts, but could not argue with the approaching storm. A minute later, it began raining hard and a few more minutes later, lightning struck the scoreboard in center field, sending sparks flying in all directions. Standing next to the Clark coach, he turned to me and said, "Blue, nice call."

Avoid taking thunderstorms and lightning lightly. Lightning is like a sniper, it strikes without warning. Help yourself, your partners, the players, coaching staff and fans by taking precautions when a thunderstorm threatens. Please avoid becoming a headline.

For more lightning safety information, visit www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov. Have a great and safe season between the lines.

Lightning Safety Tips

•  Lightning can strike as far as 10 miles from the parent thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder, you could be within striking distance.

•  Remember the 5-second rule. The sound of thunder takes 5 seconds to move about a mile. Count the seconds when you see lightning until you hear its thunder. If the time between lightning and thunder grows closer, the storm is drawing closer.

•  Lightning often produces 'side flashes' once it reaches the ground - lightning spreading out into other points of conductivity, such as the surrounding ground, metal objects like backstops and plumbing.

•  Don't hesitate - have everyone seek shelter immediately during a thunderstorm. Wait at least 15 minutes after you hear the last thunder or see lightning to leave shelter or resume play.

•  Seek shelter in sturdy buildings, such as a school, permanent restrooms, maintenance facility, or bus or vehicle.

•  Avoid shelter under trees or in dugouts dominated with metal poles and roof. Stay away from other tall objects such as power poles and tall fences.

•  If caught without shelter, keep several body lengths between members of the group and use the lightning crouch - squatting down into the catcher's position, minimizing your height and contact with the ground.

•  If you feel your hair start to stand up, lightning is about to strike. Immediately squat into the catcher position. You cannot outrun a lightning strike.