APRIL SAFETY BULLETIN

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APRIL SAFETY BULLETIN
Finally, a new season is upon us. The smell of
fresh cut grass, clean uniforms, the anticipation
of the first pitch, and yes, the sound of
thunder. As most of us know or will soon come to
find, we live in an area that is known for having
one of the highest number of lightning strikes in
the country. Two years ago while playing a game
up at the Air Force Academy we were greeted with
a typical afternoon thunderstorm. The threat was
determined to be within a 10 mile radius and
consequently the teams were removed from the
fields and told to take cover. I instructed my
players to find a car to wait out the storm while
I and a few other dads decided to wait it out
standing in front of one of the selected
vehicles. As we stood there swapping baseball
stories and contemplating the possibility of
returning to the field post haste, it happened.
A flash of light accompanied by an immediate
report of ground moving thunder made the hair on
our collective heads stand straight up. No more
than 20 feet behind the position we had taken on
the dirt road in front of the parking lot was the
location of the unsuspecting target. Needless to
say, following the near-miss we scattered looking
for the nearest vehicle to take refuge we were
lucky we had that option. Second guessing where
the next strike may or may not occur truly is an
act of Russian Roulette. Dont take that chance
under any circumstance. Your umpire may or may
not have an instrument to determine the storms
distance. Let common sense be your instrument in
all cases and never put your, or your players
lives, on the line to get in that extra inning.
If a storm appears to be within 10 miles consult
with the umpire and the opposing coach and make
the prudent decision. Always err on the side of
safety and live to play another day. Please take
the time to look over the following thunderstorm
power point. It identifies a number of potential
hazards that can accompany thunderstorms.
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THUNDERSTORM SAFETY
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• Thunderstorms affect relatively small areas.
  Typically they are
• 15 miles in diameter and last an average of 30
  minutes.
• All storms are dangerous and produce lightning,
  which kills more
• people per year than tornadoes.
• Thunderstorms can also cause
• Flash Flooding
• Strong Winds
• Hail
• Tornadoes

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• LIGHTNING
• Occurs with all thunderstorms and averages 93
  deaths and 300
• injuries each year.
• Deaths in recent years occurred while people
  were
• Boating
• Standing Under A Tree
• Playing Soccer
• Swimming
• Riding On A Lawnmower
• Fishing In A Boat
• Golfing
• Talking On The Telephone
• Mountain Climbing
• Bike Riding

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• Flash Flooding
• The 1 thunderstorm killer, nearly 140 deaths
  each year
• Most deaths occur at night and when people
  become trapped
• in their automobiles
• Straight-Line Winds
• Winds can exceed 100mph
• One specific type is the Downburst it can
  cause damage
• equivalent to a strong tornado and can be
  extremely dangerous
• to aviation
• Large Hail
• Falls at speeds faster then 100mph
• Causes nearly 1 Billion in crop and property
  damage annually
• Costliest damage was in Denver, CO on July 11,
  1990
• 625 Million in damage

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• Tornadoes
• Winds can exceed over 200mph
• Average of 80 deaths and 1,500 injuries each year

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THUNDERSTORM SAFETY

• Move to a sturdy building, do not take shelter
  in sheds or under
• isolated trees.
• Phone lines metal pipes can conduct
  electricity, unplug
• appliances that are not necessary for weather
  information
• and only use the phone for an emergency.
• Do Not take a bath or shower.
• Turn off the air conditioning. Power surges
  from lightning
• can overload the compressor.
• Get to higher ground if flash flooding /
  flooding is occurring.
• Once flooding begins, abandon cars and climb to
  higher ground.
• Do Not attempt to drive to safety, remember
  most flash flood
• deaths occur in cars.

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THUNDERSTORM SAFETY

• If outdoors find a low spot away from trees,
  fences, and poles.
• Make sure the place you choose isnt subject to
  flooding.
• If youre in the woods take shelter under the
  shorter trees.
• If you feel your skin tingle or your hair stand
  on end, squat
• low to the ground on the balls of your feet.
  Place your hands
• on your knees with your head between them.
  Make yourself
• the smallest target possible minimize your
  contact with the
• ground.
• When boating or swimming go to land and find
  shelter
• immediately.

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Remember to take shelter during
thunderstorms and use good sense if you see one
rolling in to your area. Be careful and have a
safe April.