Difference between revisions of "Lightning safety"
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* If you hear thunder, call in to base if possible and get an updated forecast and make an exit plan | * If you hear thunder, call in to base if possible and get an updated forecast and make an exit plan | ||
* Err on the side of caution - retreat back to campus if in your judgment the conditions are becoming dangerous. Better to do less fieldwork than have a serious injury. | * Err on the side of caution - retreat back to campus if in your judgment the conditions are becoming dangerous. Better to do less fieldwork than have a serious injury. | ||
| − | * If you can run back to campus in thirty minutes, do it. You will be safer inside than outside. | + | * If you can run back to campus or a vehicle (or another '''modern''' building, not a shack) in less than thirty minutes, do it. You will be safer inside than outside. |
* If for some reason you truly cannot leave your field site, try to stay in safer areas - avoid ridgelines, don't hide under lone trees, and spread out your group. If you are in a forested area don't stand directly under a tree, even if it is raining. Have group members crouch down with '''as little contact to the ground as possible''', and '''keep their feet together''' - up to half of all lightning fatalities are from ground current. | * If for some reason you truly cannot leave your field site, try to stay in safer areas - avoid ridgelines, don't hide under lone trees, and spread out your group. If you are in a forested area don't stand directly under a tree, even if it is raining. Have group members crouch down with '''as little contact to the ground as possible''', and '''keep their feet together''' - up to half of all lightning fatalities are from ground current. | ||
Latest revision as of 15:57, 23 September 2015
- If you hear thunder, call in to base if possible and get an updated forecast and make an exit plan
- Err on the side of caution - retreat back to campus if in your judgment the conditions are becoming dangerous. Better to do less fieldwork than have a serious injury.
- If you can run back to campus or a vehicle (or another modern building, not a shack) in less than thirty minutes, do it. You will be safer inside than outside.
- If for some reason you truly cannot leave your field site, try to stay in safer areas - avoid ridgelines, don't hide under lone trees, and spread out your group. If you are in a forested area don't stand directly under a tree, even if it is raining. Have group members crouch down with as little contact to the ground as possible, and keep their feet together - up to half of all lightning fatalities are from ground current.
More information
Lightning safety paper from NOLS: File:Lightning safety.pdf
Lightning safety pamphlet from NOAA: [1]
Blog post on "lightning position:" [2]
