Florida lightning strike kills one, injures several others near Tampa Bay

According to Associated Press one person was killed a 18 others injured by a lightning strike on the 4th of July in the lightning capital of the world.  A group of soccer players and onlookers in Lakeland, about 30 miles east of Tampa Bay, were enjoying a typical south Florida afternoon when the hit occurred.

According to the same reports, witnesses claimed there were some clouds building but that the deadly lightning strike came out of nowhere.

Reprinted here, in part, is the original  ’Day 1 of “The 7 Sins of Summer Safety” Week: 5 Tips for Sidestepping Lightning‘ from Buried Logic in conjunction with a report from CNN.

Though there dozens, if not hundreds of myths that pertain to lightning, thankfully the things you need to know about lightning you can count on one hand. That said, here are the Top 5 suggestions on How To Sidestep Lightning.

1. If you can hear it, it can hurt you. If you hear it, it’s here. Lightning calls out to us, speaking in the language of Thunder, telling us it is on its way.  Remember, thunder is nothing more than the sound the lightning makes as the electrical, super-heated-charge bolts through the air. They are one in the same. NOAA’s “When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!” is a fantastic information resource as well.

2. Lightning reaches out from the storm in a 360 degree circle. Though the clouds that create lightning move in uniform, the electric discharge does NOT return the favor. A strike can travel in advance, in reverse or along side of the Thunderstorm. Just because a storm “has passed” does NOT mean the threat of lightning has passed with it. Lightning has been known to travel over 10 miles to strike.

3. Memorize the “Too Long, Too Soon, Too Late, Too Early” mantra. It is because of point #2 that this rhyme is so important to remember. Many times we wait “too long” to take cover and leave that cover “too soon.”  Many individuals that are struck were “too late” in responding to the impending danger and let there guard down “too early.” Lightning can reach out and touch you whether it is raining or not.

4. Trees are great for shade, lousy for shelter in Thunder Storms. Because lightning travels both vertically and horizontally, fully enclosed buildings (or hard top vehicles with the windows up) offer the best protection while sheds, golf carts, tents, picnic shelters and screened porches do not. Keep away from windows, doors, corded phones, electrical equipment, water pipes, showers and tubs. Each serves as a great conductor of electricity. Lightning has only one goal. Striking!

5. Learn the “Lightning Crouch” to employ as a LAST RESORT. According to the National Lightning Safety Institute, “The Lightning Crouch: Use this only as a last, desperate measure!!  If you’ve made several bad decisions and are outside far away from proper shelter when lightning threatens, proceed to the safest location. Get off the higher elevations, get out of the open fields, get away from tall isolated objects, and get away from water. If lightning is imminent, it will sometimes give a very few seconds of warning. Sometimes your hair will stand-up on end, or your skin will tingle, or light metal objects will vibrate, or you’ll hear a crackling or “kee-kee” sound. If this happens and you’re in a group, spread out so there are several body lengths between each person.” Additionally,  ”Once you’ve spread out, use the lightning crouch; put your feet together, squat down, tuck your head, and cover your ears.” Picture adopting the “fetal position on the balls of your feet” with your heels touching each other, your chest to your knees and your forearms cupping your ears and the back of your head. Fight the urge to lay flat on the ground. Though you are a bit lower, the more your body is in contact with the Earth’s surface, the greater your chances of being victimized by ground and spread lightning.