Lightning & Thunder Safety Protocol
Lightning is a serious weather hazard that poses a significant risk to players, coaches, volunteers, officials, and spectators. Lightning can strike several miles away from a thunderstorm, making it essential that everyone involved in outdoor activities takes approaching storms seriously.
League administrators, coaches, trainers, and other responsible personnel must be prepared to respond to changing weather conditions. Lightning safety procedures should be planned in advance, communicated to participants, and followed consistently.
-- Lightning Safety Procedures--
1. Monitor Weather Conditions
Before and during all outdoor activities, a designated individual should monitor weather forecasts and changing weather conditions.
The designated individual will be responsible for monitoring approaching storms and making the decision to suspend activities and initiate evacuation procedures when necessary.
2. Be Aware of Weather Conditions
Thunderstorms can develop quickly, particularly during warmer months. Coaches, administrators, and responsible volunteers should remain aware of changing weather conditions throughout all outdoor activities.
3. If You See Lightning or Hear Thunder, Take Action
If lightning is seen or thunder is heard, the storm is close enough to present a danger.
**If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.**
When thunder is heard or lightning is observed, all participants and spectators should be prepared to immediately move to a safe location.
4. Use the Flash-to-Bang Method
When lightning is observed, count the number of seconds between seeing the lightning flash and hearing the thunder. Divide the number of seconds by five to estimate the approximate distance of the storm in miles.
A **flash-to-bang time of 30 seconds or less** indicates that lightning is close enough to require the immediate suspension of all outdoor activities.
When the 30-second rule is reached:
* All activities must stop immediately.
* Players, coaches, officials, volunteers, and spectators must move to a designated safe shelter.
* No one should remain on the playing field or in exposed outdoor areas.
A pre-designated responsible individual should have the authority to suspend activities and initiate evacuation procedures.
5. Establish an Evacuation Plan
Evacuation procedures must be established before outdoor activities begin. Responsible personnel should know:
* How players and spectators will be notified.
* Where individuals will go for shelter.
* How communication will be maintained during an emergency.
* The safest routes to designated shelter areas.
Signs directing individuals to designated safe areas should be available whenever possible.
6. Plan for Players and Spectators
Responsible personnel should consider the approximate number of players, coaches, officials, volunteers, and spectators who may need shelter.
Available shelter locations should be capable of safely accommodating the expected number of individuals. If necessary, multiple shelter locations should be identified before activities begin.
7. Identify Safe Shelter Locations
The safest location during a lightning storm is a substantial, fully enclosed building with electrical wiring and plumbing.
If a suitable building is not available, an enclosed vehicle with a hard metal roof may provide protection.
During a lightning event:
* Do not touch metal surfaces.
* Avoid plumbing and running water.
* Do not use corded telephones or electrical equipment.
* Cellular phones may be used when necessary.
**Baseball dugouts, open shelters, tents, and similar structures are not considered safe lightning shelters.**
8. Avoid Dangerous Locations
If safe shelter is not immediately available, individuals should avoid:
* Open fields and high ground.
* Isolated trees.
* Light poles, antennas, and towers.
* Metal fences and bleachers.
* Baseball dugouts and open sheds.
* Golf carts and other open vehicles.
* Bodies of water.
* Metal equipment or structures.
Individuals should never remain in an open area during a lightning storm.
9. Seek Safe Shelter Immediately
There is **no completely safe location outdoors during a lightning storm**. The priority should always be to reach a safe, enclosed building or vehicle as quickly as possible.
Players and spectators should never remain on the field, in a dugout, under a tree, or beneath an open shelter while lightning is present.
10. Resuming Activities
The designated responsible individual will determine when it is safe to resume activities.
Outdoor activities should not resume until **at least 30 minutes have passed since the last sound of thunder or the last visible flash of lightning.**
The 30-minute waiting period must restart each time additional thunder is heard or lightning is observed.
Players, coaches, officials, and spectators must remain in the designated safe area until they are instructed that it is safe to leave.
REMEMBER: WHEN THUNDER ROARS, GO INDOORS
No outdoor athletic event is worth risking the safety of a player, coach, volunteer, official, or spectator. When lightning is seen or thunder is heard, activities should be suspended immediately and everyone should move to a designated safe shelter.