Lightning Safety Awareness Week

The week of June 22-28 is Lightning Safety Awareness Week. On average, lightning kills about 51 people a year, but injures hundreds more. Here are a few tips to stay safe during the peak season for one of Mother Nature's more deadly phenomena.

Lightning Strike in DeKalb Co. Taken By Matt Rodewald

GET INSIDE: You've probably heard the phrase, "When thunder roars, go indoors". That's because if you can see lightning or hear thunder, you have the potential of being struck.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES: If you have outdoor plans and see lightning or hear thunder, the best advice is to wait 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder before going back outside. The majority of people who are killed by lightning each year are doing leisure activities, like fishing or boating.

STUCK OUTSIDE: Some of you might be wondering, "What do I do if there's lightning and I can't get inside?" There's no good answer for this, but here are some tips:

-Avoid elevated places
-Get away from isolated trees and bodies of water
-Stay away from things that conduct electricity, like power lines and fences

So far in 2014, seven people have died from lightning strikes. If you look at what those people were during when they were killed (Fishing, riding their motorcycle, etc.), you realize that most of those deaths could have been prevented.

For more information about Lightning Safety Awareness Week from the National Weather Service, click here. -BA