LIGHTNING LINKS

It is important that schools review their policy regarding lightning with all coaches and game officials.  In the absence of a specific school policy, the default policy provided by the NFHS is a "30-30 Rule."  The "30-30 Rule" specifies that if the "flash [of lightning]-to-bang [of thunder]" is 30 seconds or less, individuals outside should go to a safer location and that individuals should wait a minimum of 30 minutes after hearing the last thunder before leaving the safer location to resume play.  It should be noted that the "30-30 Rule" will not work well for "first strike" lightning from locally developing thunderstorms.

 

While each member school or school division has the authority to adopt its own specific risk management policies, all should be aware that the National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Lightning Safety Institute, American Meteorological Society, National Severe Storms Laboratory and the National Athletic Trainers Association are all on record as supporting the "30-30 Rule."

Click on any of the following links for more information about lightning safety:

http://www.lightningsafety.com/nlsi_pls/ncaa.html

http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/overview.htm

http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/more.htm

http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/ams_lightning_rec.htm

http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/resources/CoachGuide.pdf

http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/outdoors.htm

http://www.ametsoc.org/POLICY/Lightning_Safety_Article.pdf

http://www.ametsoc.org/POLICY/lightningpolicy_2002.html

http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/edu/ltg/

http://www.nata.org/newsrelease/archives/000184.html

http://www.nata.org/publicinformation/files/lightning.pdf