With the advent of spring sports comes another inevitability…spring storms.
It might not be in the forefront of your mind as a player, coach or fan, but knowing what to do if lightning strikes, or other potentially hazardous weather conditions appear, can be the difference between life and death.
According to the NCAA, prevention should begin long before any athletically related activity, event or practice by having an institutional lightning safety plan in place. In this plan would be persons responsible for monitoring weather conditions who is aware of what type of weather patterns can be harmful, knowledge of how to use forecasting reports and equipment such as lightning detectors, and skilled and trained to disseminate the information where it needs to go.
Many schools now have storm resistant areas made to resist damage from high winds such as a tornado or high straight-line winds. School personnel are trained to how to assess and manage any possible weather threats and schools even drill for such an event like a fire drill.
Specific lightning safety guidelines have been developed with the assistance of lightning safety experts. Institutions should design a lightning safety plan that considers local safety needs, local venues (including access to those venues), weather patterns and storm types. Experts recommend by the time the monitor observes 30 seconds between seeing the lightning and hearing the thunder the leading edge of the storm is within six miles of your location.
According to Warren County High School athletic director Todd Willmore, the school has a plan and would rather be safe than sorry.
“The entire school district uses a service provided by WeatherBug,” Willmore said. “We receive notifications via text about lightning and when there is an all clear. Trainer Tim McIntosh along with myself monitor potential weather issues closely. We have always attempted to err on the side of caution. One injury due to weather issues would be too many. An athletic event, while we want to play whenever we can, is not worth the risk.”
Along with all the weather preparedness, there should be personnel on hand who are also certified in first aid and CPR in case of an accident or injury.