....STAY SAFE FROM LIGHTNING STRIKES THIS FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND...
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING, THE MONTH OF JULY IS THE DEADLIEST MONTH FOR
LIGHTNING STRIKES IN SOUTH FLORIDA. WITH SOUTH FLORIDIANS ENJOYING
THE FOURTH OF JULY FESTIVITIES THIS WEEKEND, AND THE TYPICAL
SUMMERTIME SCATTERED THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY EXPECTED, NOW IS A GOOD
TIME TO REMIND EVERYONE OF THE DANGERS POSED BY LIGHTNING BY
REVIEWING SOME LIGHTNING PREVENTION TIPS.
FOLLOW THE 30/30 RULE. WHEN YOU SEE LIGHTNING, COUNT THE TIME UNTIL
YOU HEAR THUNDER. IF THAT TIME IS 30 SECONDS OR LESS, THE
THUNDERSTORM IS CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE DANGEROUS. SEEK SHELTER INDOORS
IMMEDIATELY. WAIT AT LEAST 30 MINUTES AFTER HEARING THE LAST CLAP OF
THUNDER BEFORE LEAVING SHELTER. DO NOT BE FOOLED BY SUNSHINE OR
CLEARING SKIES. LIGHTNING ROUTINELY STRIKES UP TO 5 MILES AWAY FROM
THE RAIN AND DARKEST CLOUDS.
THE NUMBER ONE RULE FOR LIGHTNING SAFETY IS: IF YOU'RE OUTSIDE, GET
INSIDE A FULLY ENCLOSED BUILDING. BEING ANYWHERE OUTSIDE IS NOT
SAFE! REMEMBER, OPEN PICNIC SHELTERS AND PAVILIONS OFFER NO
PROTECTION FROM LIGHTNING.
METAL ENCLOSED VEHICLES ARE RELATIVELY SAFE, BUT OFFER A FALSE SENSE
OF SECURITY SINCE YOU CAN STILL GET STRUCK BY LIGHTNING WHILE INSIDE
A VEHICLE. KEEP YOUR HANDS AWAY FROM DOORS, WINDOWS AND STEERING
WHEELS. AVOID LEANING AGAINST VEHICLES. CONVERTIBLE AUTOMOBILES
OFFER ABSOLUTELY NO PROTECTION FROM LIGHTNING.
GET COMPLETELY OUT OF THE WATER, OFF THE BEACH AND OUT OF SMALL
BOATS AND CANOES. IF CAUGHT IN A BOAT, CROUCH DOWN IN THE CENTER OF
THE BOAT AWAY FROM METAL HARDWARE. AVOID STANDING IN PUDDLES OF
WATER. RUBBER BOOTS OFFER LITTLE PROTECTION. SWIMMING, WADING,
SNORKELING AND SCUBA DIVING ARE NOT SAFE ACTIVITIES DURING
THUNDERSTORMS.
WHEN THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO SHELTER, A MEASURE OF LAST RESORT IS TO
CROUCH DOWN, KEEPING TWICE AS FAR AWAY FROM ISOLATED TREES AS THE
TREES ARE HIGH. THERE IS NO SAFE PLACE OUTDOORS!
AVOID OTHER HIGH AREAS, OPEN SPACES, WIRE FENCES, METAL CLOTHES
LINES, EXPOSED SHEDS AND ANY ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE ELEVATED
OBJECTS.
DO NOT WORK ON FENCES, UTILITY LINES, PIPELINES, STEEL
FABRICATIONS, ANTENNAE OR ON ROOF TOPS OR OTHER HIGH PLACES.
STOP TRACTOR WORK AND HEAVY CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN
PULLING METAL EQUIPMENT, AND DISMOUNT. DO NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER THE
EQUIPMENT.
AT CONSTRUCTION SITES, MOVE TO A LOCATION BENEATH A SOLID ROOF.
AVOID OPENINGS SUCH AS WINDOWS OR DOORS.
DON'T BE UNDER A CARPORT OR IN A SCREENED PORCH OR IN AN OPEN
GARAGE.
WHEN INDOORS, STAY AWAY FROM OPEN DOORS AND WINDOWS, STOVES, METAL
PIPES, SINKS AND PLUGGED IN ELECTRICAL DEVICES. STAY OUT OF THE
SHOWER OR BATHTUB AND OFF THE TOILET. DO NOT USE A CORDED TELEPHONE
OR COMPUTER. UNPLUG MAJOR. APPLIANCES SUCH AS TELEVISIONS AND AIR
CONDITIONERS. LIGHTNING CAN ENTER THE HOUSE THROUGH ELECTRICAL,
TELEPHONE AND PLUMBING CONNECTIONS.
PERSONS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING RECEIVE A SEVERE ELECTRICAL SHOCK AND
MAY BE BURNED, HOWEVER THEY CARRY NO ELECTRICAL CHARGE AND CAN BE
ATTENDED TO SAFELY. A PERSON APPARENTLY KILLED BY LIGHTNING CAN
OFTEN BE REVIVED BY PROMPT CPR. OTHER PERSONS WHO APPEAR ONLY
STUNNED MAY ALSO NEED MEDICAL ATTENTION. DO NOT LET VICTIMS WALK
AROUND. GIVE THEM FIRST AID FOR SHOCK.
MONITOR WEATHER CONDITIONS BY TUNING IN TO LOCAL MEDIA AND BY GOING
TO THE MIAMI NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEB SITE AT:
WWW.WEATHER.GOV/MIAMI.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON LIGHTNING SAFETY: GO TO THE FOLLOWING WEB
SITE: WWW.LIGHTNINGSAFETY.NOAA.GOV
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