SATURDAY, June 12, 2004 (HealthDayNews) -- Lightning strikes are not common, but when they hit, the results can be disastrous.
About 500 injuries and 100 deaths occur in the United States each year from lightning, according to the National Collegiate Athletic Association. While the risk is low, it increases if there is a storm in the area and you're outside at a sporting event.
To stay safe, sports fans can follow some of the same guidelines recommended to coaches and athletic directors by the association.
Before settling in at the stadium or sporting venue, locate the closest safe structure or location where you could take cover. A building normally occupied by people, which has plumbing or electricity wired so the structure is grounded, is safe. A vehicle is safe if it has a hard metal roof. Avoid convertibles and vehicles such as golf carts.
Learn to gauge how close lightning is by using the flash-to-bang method. To do this, count the seconds from the time lightning is seen to the time the thunder clap is heard. Divide by five to compute how far away in miles the lightning struck. For instance, if the time span is 45 seconds, the lightning is 9 miles away. Coaches are advised to evacuate when the time span is 30 seconds or less.
During a lightning storm, avoid using a land-line phone and switch instead to a cellular phone, but try to use it while standing inside a safe structure.
If you've cleared the stadium or field and are ready to return, you should wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder clap or lightning bolt.
More information
For more details on lightning, see the National Weather Service.
