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
  • 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't 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]