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Swimming Pool Safety during Lightning Storms
These safety tips apply to indoor and outdoor pools.
Lightning’s behavior is random and unpredictable. We recommend a very conservative attitude towards it. Preparedness and quick responses are the best defenses towards the lightning hazard.
Swimming pools are connected to a much larger surface area via underground water pipes, gas lines, electric and telephone wiring, etc. Lightning strikes to the ground anywhere on this metallic network may induce shocks elsewhere.
- Designate a responsible person as the weather safety lookout. That person should keep an eye on the weather. Use a "weather radio" or the Weather
Channel or other TV program to obtain good localized advanced weather information.
- When thunder and/or lightning are first noticed, use the Flash-To-Bang (F-B) method to determine its’ rough distance and speed. This technique measures
the time from seeing lightning to hearing associated thunder. For each five seconds from F-B, lightning is one mile away. Thus, a F-B of 10 = 2 miles; 15
= 3 miles; 20 = 4 miles; etc. At a F-B count of thirty, the pool should be evacuated. People should be directed to safe shelter nearby.
- Pool activities should remain suspended until thirty minutes after the last thunder is heard. The distance from Strike A to Strike B to Strike C can be
some 5-8 miles away. And it can strike much farther away. Why take a chance with lightning?
Here are some informative Internet sites that will provide you with further helpful information on lightning safety:
1. Lightning Protection Institute: More safety tips and information on lightning safety; special tips for children.
2. FEMA: Federal Emergency Management Agency: Find out the signs of an impending lightning storm; plus more safety tips.
Here are some informative books to read that deal with lightning safety. Use Amazon.com's secure server to order:
 Wild Weather: Lightning! (Hello Reader! Science Level 4): - Lorraine Jean Hopping, Jody Wheeler (Illustrator). This book is the perfect reading level for ages 4 through 8. The easy-to-read style and interesting lightning facts make this book a wonderful choice to introduce children to lightning's enormous power. Buy it now through Amazon.com's secure server!
Click HERE or on the image of the books to give this gift to yourself or someone else!
Flash, Crash, Rumble, and Roll (Lrfo) : - Franklyn Mansfield Branley, True Kelley (Illustrator). Here's another book that's perfect for children with reading levels 4 through 8. Learn the how, what, when, & why's of lightning. Buy it NOW through Amazon.com's secure server!
Click HERE or on the image of the books to give this gift to yourself or someone else!
Reprinted with permission from the National Lightning Safety Institute. The safety information contained on these pages is provided as a courtesy to My ParenTime's visitors. My ParenTime makes no representations or guarantees concerning the effectiveness of such information. In no event shall My ParenTime be held liable for any failure of such safety information.
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