Lightning Awareness Week

During this lightning awareness campaign of NOAA and the Red Cross remember that Mother Nature and lightning are non-discriminatory. You can limit your chances of being of victim by being smart. Move indoors and lead others to safety as well.

NOAA has provided this awareness information on staying safe when lightning is observed. Quite simply - get indoors and stay indoors. Don't try and play the last hole of golf or catch one more fish. Wait until about thirty minutes after the last clap of thunder before venturing back out to the lake or the links.

Lasat year NOAA documented 34 deaths due to lightning in the United States and Puerto Rico; two in Minnesota. One fatality in Minnesota was a man working in his yard, the other was a teenager playing in a puddle of water. Parents have the responsibility of teaching youngsters safety from severe weather. In some cases the young folks can share their concern to be weather cautious. Like when the coach thinks it's okay to keep playing a soccer or baseball game.

For those who are curious, 82 percent of the fatalities in 2009 were males.

Unfortunately after the damage has been done, there are no opportunities for a do-over. Be smart and stay safe. There will always be time to play another round of golf, finish mowing the lawn and complete the ball game.

I've had two incidents on the golf course where I pushed my luck and dodged the danger. In another instance, I went for a walk and got caught a couple miles from home when a surprise thunderstorm formed quickly. My wife heard the thunder and tracked me down, saving me from running home.

What's your lightning safety story?

CE