The dos & don'ts of lightning safety

By GENE MADDEN

PHOTO COURTESY NOAA Lightning is an electrical charge that runs between a cloud and the ground or between clouds or portions of clouds. This charge creates a flash of light and a strike or series of strikes.

PHOTO STEVEN FRANK If using boat or swamp equipment, dock and get out of the equipment and away from the water.

Here's a multiple-choice quiz for you: I live and drive in Florida. I fish on the water, "play" golf (OK, it's more like I lose balls and walk/cuss a lot), spend a lot of time under and around trees and occasionally climb fire towers. Which natural phenomenon must I watch for every time I perform one of these activities? Your choices are: A) water spouts, B) flocks of geese, C) rarified air, D) driving "snow birds" or E) lightning. See the end of the article for the correct answer.

Lightning strikes the earth millions of times each day. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), an estimated 25 million cloud-to-ground lightning strikes occur each day in the United States alone. As a result, an average of 300 lightning injuries are documented each year; many more most likely go undocumented. In addition, an average of 67 people have died every year in this country for the past 30 years from lightning strikes. According to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group's Historical Fatality and Serious Injury Report, lightning has caused three U.S. wildland fatalities in the past 20 years. In 1989, a federal employee died on the Tonto National Forest, and in August 2000, several members of a flame-in-glow Type 2 hand crew were struck by lightning, killing two and injuring four.

Although many people associate thunderstorms with lightning strikes, lightning can and does strike during clear, blue, sunny days. Because of this, wildland firefighters must know about this awesome display of Mother Nature and develop their own basic lightning safety strategy.

Lightning 101
Lightning is an electrical charge that runs between a cloud and the ground or between clouds or portions of clouds. This charge creates a flash of light and a strike or series of strikes. The duration of a strike is very short — only about 40 microseconds. The electrical currents that flow to the end of a strike also flow on or near the surface of the ground where the strike terminates. Because a strike can possess a maximum electrical strength of 100,000 amperes, significant electrical currents can also flow into the ground. Strikes very often stop following a tree or other object and "flash over" to the ground or a nearby object.

Lightning Safety Tips
Because lightning can strike any time, anywhere, wildland firefighters must keep a sharp eye out for certain conditions and know their surroundings when working a wildfire. The following list contains lightning safety tips taken from several sources, including the U.S. Forest Service, the NWS and the National Lightening Safety Institute.

•  Watch for developing thunderstorms.
• Plan in advance your evacuation and safety measures.
• If a storm is on the horizon, go to a safe building (one that's fully enclosed). Lean-tos, tents, isolated trees and rock outcroppings are not safe shelters.
• Use a hard-topped vehicle with rubber tires (trucks, SUVs) as another safe spot. Metal tracked, non-metal and/or open-top equipment (e.g., dozers) are not safe.
• If you are operating a metal tracked vehicle, shut it down, dismount and seek appropriate shelter.
• Avoid large open spaces such as water sources, open meadows, fields and parking lots. Also avoid hilltops, ridges, clumps of trees, ledges and any exposed or high places.
• If caught out in an open area, seek the lowest spot possible, and crouch down. (Avoid dry creek beds if you anticipate a flash flood.)
• If you're in a fire tower, leave and seek appropriate shelter. Consider using your vehicle.
• Do not stay on or near horses, pack animals or stock or metal fencing. Also avoid touching wet ropes during a thunderstorm because they are excellent conductors of electricity.
• Avoid metal surfaces and don't use plumbing or electronic equipment, including radios with whip antennas, computers, TVs and hard-line phones. Unplug your electrical and communications equipment if you don't use surge protectors. Note: Evidence suggests that HT radios, rubber ducky antennas and cell phones are safe to use. Check your agency's policy.
• Turn off generators and electrical equipment if you don't need them.
• Put down hand tools. Do not carry objects that extend upward.
• Do not handle flammable materials in open containers.
• Ground and secure all aircraft.
• If using boat or swamp equipment, dock and get out of the equipment and away from the water.
• If a crewmember feels an electrical charge or tingle (their hair stands on end), a lightning strike may be imminent.
• If a lightning strike is imminent, assume the lightning desperation position: Crouch down but do not lie down. Bend your knees while keeping your feet together, and make yourself as small a target as possible. Doing this minimizes the area of the body in contact with the ground, which reduces the potential for the body to carry ground current. Place a non-conductive object (e.g., your day pack or a space blanket) under your feet, if possible. Old-timers know this position is different from the one taught years ago; they were taught to spread their feet out, but the new method minimizes this exposure.
• Important: Use the 30-30 rule. When you see a flash of lightning, count the seconds between the flash and the sound of thunder. If the time between the two is 30 seconds or less, the thunderstorm is within 6 miles of you, and you should seek shelter immediately. Also, the threat of lightning continues longer than expected. Wait at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder before leaving your shelter — don't be fooled by sunshine or a blue sky. Remember: The key to lightning safety is prevention.

PHOTO COURTESY NOAA To correctly perform the lightning desperation position, crouch down, but do not lie down. Bend your knees while keeping your feet together, and make yourself as small a target as possible.

First Aid
Individuals struck by lightning or near a lightning strike require immediate medical attention. Activate your emergency plan and/or summon help from your local emergency medical system (911 in most cases). The good news: Individuals struck by lightning carry no electrical charge so you can immediately handle and treat them. The difficult news: If you have multiple victims (and that's very likely in our line of work), you must triage or sort them out. Administer emergency first aid to those who are unresponsive. You may need to perform CPR on more than one victim.

Trauma from a lightning strike tends to primarily affect the nervous system because it is the path of least resistance — like a tree's cambium or its wet surface. If a crewmember suffers the traumatic effects of lightning, you may have to deal with injuries to the brain, autonomic nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. If your patient is in full respiratory and/or cardiac arrest, start artificial ventilation or CPR as needed. You may also find that lightning-strike victims suffer from thermal injuries as well as gruesome "blow out" injuries in direct strikes. These types of injuries can resemble a gunshot wound: small entry wound and large exit wound. Occasionally, these exit wounds resemble small explosions or blow-outs. If this is the case, ignore the blow-out injuries and tend to the victim's airway, breathing and circulation first.

Post-lightning-strike signs and symptoms include intense headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and concussion-like symptoms. Sleep disruption and seizures have also been reported as well as depression, personality changes and lasting fatigue.
 
Where to Go
Victims and their families may require long-term support to recover and/or regain function. Lightning Strike and Electrical Shock Survivors International (LSESSI) is an organization that provides help to survivors, families, physicians and other professionals. Visit their Web site at www.lightning-strike.org.

The fourth annual National Lightning Safety Awareness Week is scheduled for June 18–24. Visit the NWS Web site (www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/week.htm) to read up on lightning information and download excellent lightning safety posters.
 
Answer to Quiz
If you haven't guessed already, the correct answer was E! Florida is the lightning capitol of the world. Rain or shine, lightning is never far away here.

Gene Madden, an SOFI, is the chairman of the NWCG Safety and Health Working Team and a member of the NWCG Emergency Medical Support Group. Madden is employed as the division safety officer for the Florida Division of Forestry and is an IOFI and a medical unit leader. E-mail him at maddeng@doacs.state.fl.us.