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SAFETY MEETING

THUNDERSTORM SAFETY

MAIN POINTS

Sometimes thunderstorms, especially the ones that are severe, can be a threatening
experience to your home and family. Learn how to protect your property as well as your
loved ones and get prepared in advance for oncoming storms.

Dark, low rolling clouds, lightning, and thunder are the usual signs of an approaching
thunderstorm. You can figure out how close a thunderstorm is to your location by waiting
for the next lightning flash. Immediately after you see it, start counting the seconds until
you hear the next clap of thunder. Divide this number by 5 and the answer will be the
approximate number in miles that the thunderstorm is away from you.

The first thing you need to have on hand in order to be properly prepared is a portable,
battery-operated radio with an extra set of fully charged batteries. You should monitor
the local weather forecasts issued by the National Weather Service and listen closely
for advisories of severe thunderstorm watches or warnings, flash flood warnings, and
tornado watches or warnings.

Some other emergency supplies you should have on hand are spare flashlights, spare
batteries, a complete first aid kit, a food supply as well as an emergency supply of clean
water, and some heavy blankets. Don't forget to pack a hand crank can opener in the
box along with the canned food.

If you are inside when a thunderstorm comes up, it is best to stay inside if at all
possible. Turn off televisions, satellite receivers, air conditioning units, and all other
unnecessary electrical appliances. Stay off of the telephone-unless you need to make
an emergency call- and do not use bathtubs, shower stalls, or sinks at this time. Copper
or other types of metal plumbing pipes can act as conductors of electricity. Lightning can
strike your electrical or telephone lines outside your house and the electricity can travel
into your house. Having any contact with the plumbing pipes or anything they are
connected to could electrocute you or your family. Also, close the windows and the
doors of your home.

If your home is located in a low-lying area, or in an area that is prone to flooding, be

prepared to evacuate your premises in a moment's notice. Move to safety in an area
where the ground is higher.

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If you happened to be caught outside in the open during a thunderstorm, try to get to a
safe haven as soon as possible, preferably a low spot of ground which is away from tall
trees, electric and telephone lines, ponds, rivers, and lakes. Crouch down low to the
ground. Don't lie on the ground, as you want as little contact with the ground as possible
in case lightning would strike.

If you are caught in a vehicle, be especially alert to falling trees, power lines, and debris
on the roadway, as well as flooded roadways caused by the thunderstorm. If heavy
rains hinder your driving vision, pull off the road into a parking lot or other safe area until
the rain slacks off. Remember to turn your vehicle's emergency flashers on so you can
be seen if you are forced to pull off along the side of the roadway.

Hail is produced by many strong thunderstorms. Hail can be smaller than a pea or as
large as a softball and can be very destructive to plants and crops. In a hailstorm, take
cover immediately. Pets and livestock are particularly vulnerable to hail, so bring
animals into a shelter.

ALL THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE LIGHTNING. IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER,

YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK!

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

WHAT INJURIES DO LIGHTNING SURVIVORS EXPERIENCE?

While not every survivor will experience everything below, most of them are common
items.

 Long term memory loss. You don't even know what's gone until you try to recall it.
(i.e. childhood memories are gone)

 Short term memory impairment. Usually attributed to old age. You get up to get or
do something and forget what it was. Except this can happen many times a day and
doesn't always happen every day. So the unpredictability is also a factor. (I.e. can't
remember telephone conversations as soon as I get off the phone or putting the milk
in the cupboard and the clean dishes in the oven)

 Sleep pattern disturbances. Sometimes you want to sleep for days. Sometimes
you can't sleep for days. Sometimes 15-20 minutes of sleep, and you're good to go
for another 36 hours. Fatigue is a common symptom of any brain injury. Lightning
survivors typically have frontal lobe brain injury.

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 Body temperature deregulation. Body temperature swings very hot to very cold.
When it swings hot the person sweats. When it swings low, it can be 30C/90F inside
and the person still has to turn the heat up.

 Clinical Depression. Many, if not most, survivors are treated for depressed
mindsets. Often the medications work, but for only a limited time.

 Erratic cognitive impairment. Though they still functional in a work or social

environment, the ability to rationally communicate in conversation sometimes is
difficult. The telephone represents an even bigger challenge. You hear the words,
know what they mean, but still cannot put together relevant information.

 Numbers or numeric processing is sometimes also affected. Addition and

subtraction abilities may be gone or severely disrupted but complex division is still
intact.

 Muscular and Central Nervous System problems. Another problem which is

attributed to the aging process. Sudden sharp stabbing pains in muscles, joints or
tendons. Atrophied muscular groups cause a constant feeling of exhaustion.

 Headaches. Sometimes severe Migraines, or "Cluster" headaches.

 Loss of dexterity and fine motor skills. Difficulty in typing, buttoning buttons, etc.

 Hearing deficits and impairments.

 Seizures. Often associated with closed head injuries. It seems that many more
electrical shock victims experience seizures than lightning victims. Most survivors
indicate that standard medications are reasonably effective, but not totally.

DISCUSSION

 Any comments on what we have discussed so far?

 Any announcements?

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