From jellyfish to sunburn, beach can hurt

Georgetown Times SC ^ | July 29, 2005

[WestCoastGal]

They keep saying here on TV that if you can hear the thunder you can be struck by lightening.

I'm wondering what happened to the Boy Scouts in Yosemite (I think it was Yosemite) just read that on FR last night they were struck by lightening. One scout and one troop leader struck and killed while they thought they were protected under a tarp.

How to protect yourself from lightening when outdoors is a good question.

[Smokin' Joe]

That pen and ink drawing looks like the critter...Thanks for the link!

[Smokin' Joe]

Thanks for the ping... It is a neat page.

[Smokin' Joe]

I've seen those in Nevada, when I was working there. Not something to play with...

[ctdonath2]

Nice long list of dangers.

Completely ignoring the point that they're just incidental to deliberately immersing one's self in an unsanitary industrial solvent, inhalation of which can kill in seconds.

:-)

[WestCoastGal]

Lightening Safety Outdoors



Each year, about 400 individuals in the United States are stuck by lightening while working outside, at sports events, on the beach, mountain climbing, mowing the lawn or during other outdoor activities. About 67 people are killed and several hundred more are left to cope with permanent disabilities.

All thunderstorms produce lightening and are dangerous

Lightening often strikes as far as 10 miles away from any rainfall

You are in danger from lightening if you can hear thunder

Lightening injuries can lead to permanent disabilities or death

Look for dark cloud bases and increasing wind

Blue skies and lightening : Lightening can travel sideways for up to 10 miles. Even when the sky looks blue and clear, be cautious. If you hear thunder, take cover. At least 10% of lightening occurs without visible clouds overhead in the sky.

Outdoors is the most dangerous place to be during a lightening storm. When lightening is seen or thunder is heard, or when dark clouds are observed, quickly move indoors or into a hard-topped vehicle and remain there until well after the lightening storm ends.



Safety Rules :

Postpone activities promptly. Don't wait for rain. Many people take shelter from the rain, but most people struck by lightening are not in the rain. Go quickly inside a completely enclose building is convenient, get inside a hard-topped all metal vehicle. A cave is a good option outside but move as far as possible from the cave entrance.

Be the lowest point. Lightening hits the tallest object. In the mountains if you are above treeline, you ARE the highest object around. Quickly get below treeline and get into a grove of small trees. Don't be the second tallest object during a lightening storm. Crouch down if you are in an exposed area.

Stay away from trees, if you can't get to a shelter. If there is no shelter, crouch in the open, keeping twice as far away from a tree as it is tall.

Keep an eye on the sky. Look for darkening skies, flashes of lightening, or increasing wind, which may be signs of an approaching thunderstorm.

Listen for the sound of thunder. If you can hear thunder, go to a safe shelter immediately.

If you see or hear a thunderstorm coming or your hair stands on end, immediately suspend your game or practice and instruct everyone to go inside a sturdy building or car. Sturdy buildings are the safest place to be. Avoid sheds, picnic shelters, baseball dugouts, and bleachers. If no sturdy building is nearby, a hard-top vehicle with windows closed will offer some protection. The steel frame of the vehicle provides some protection if you are not touching metal.

Avoid leaning against vehicles. Get off bicycles and motorcycles.

Get out of water. It's a great conductor of electricity. Stay off the beach and out of small boats or canoes. If caught in a boat, crouch down in the center of the boat away from metal hardware. Swimming, wading, snorkeling and scuba diving are NOT safe. Lightening can strike the water and travel some distance beneath and away from its point of contact. Don't stand in puddles of water, even if wearing rubber boots.

Avoid metal. Drop metal backpacks, stay away from clothes lines, fences, exposed sheds and electrically conductive elevated objects. Don't hold on to metal items such as golf clubs, fishing rods, tennis rackets or tools. Large metal objects can conduct lightening. Small metal objects can cause burns.

Move away from a group of people. Stay several yards away from other people. Don't share a bleacher bench or huddle in a group.

Listen to NOAA Weather Radio. Coaches and other leaders should listen for a tone-alert feature during practice sessions and games. LINK to Indoor safety and other info here

[jimboster]

If you do find yourself in trouble while swimming and no one notices you waving and shouting, it's best to swim farther out, away from the shore. This way your body will probably never be found and your family won't have to look at you all bloaty and everything (maybe even with jellyfish stings if you're really unlucky).

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Thanks WCG.

My daughter just called from Houston. There was a lightening strike very near their home yesterday evening.

It took out their alarm system, A/C, T.V.s, computer, etc.

We had that happen about 10 years ago, also in Houston. But the neighbor got the brunt of the damage. We lost an answering machine and a T.V.

But those Scout leaders and the other incident you mention, involved loss of life. How awful.

[Former Fetus]

have him take a baking soda bath.

Years ago I read somewhere that baking soda was the ideal treatment for fire ant bites. Last summer I stepped on a hill, got close to a hundred bites on my right foot. In the midst of my panic, I remember that I use a roll-on deodorant with baking soda, so I ran in the house and covered my foot with it. Not only did it stop the burning, but the next day I did not have a single blister!!! Since then I have tried it on all kinds of stings and it has always worked wonderfully. I carry a bottle of deodorant in my pocket book and have used when somebody else gets stung. It is handy, as you have the baking soda disdolved in it, always ready to use. I'm going to the beach Monday and, while hopping not to find out if it works on jelly fish, I will certainly carry it with me!

[fivekid]

Great info.

The oldtimers also said to stay off the phone

and when they had running water to stay out of the tub.

Also used to tell us to count one blue mountain two

blue mountain... etc. from the TIME you heard the thunder,

inutile the lighting struck, and that would tell you how

many miles away the storm was from you.

[fivekid]

dang it I used spell check.........

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Well, how about that?

I always keep a bottle of Caladryl/Calamine lotion on hand. If you use it right away it will block a lot of the reaction to fire ant bites.

[WestCoastGal]

We just heard from one of our Nascar thread members that he lost his computer during a lightening event which ran through the phone line into the computer and fried it.

Since I now live in a high lightening area I purchased a high end surge protector into which I have my computer equipment plugged.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

This had some good info: It's summer, so protect against power surges

[fivekid]

We have had so many surge protecters.......

NONE of them have worked.

The only thing We can do now is just keep an eye to

the sky, shut down, and unplug. Also We have had power

surges (usually on weekends) from drunks hitting a power

pole. When that happens there is nothing We can do.

Also, just surges in the powerline. At least with the

weather You can pretty much judge whats going on.

[WestCoastGal]

I've learned lately not to trust things, so I normally unplug the computer and telephone lines when I leave the house. No need in having an answering machine. :)

[lizma]

What is a ammonia pen?

It's marketed as "After Bite". We brought it on vaca for bug bites but now know it works miracles for jellyfish stings.

Peeing on it will actually have the same effect (cuz of the ammonia/urea) but that will probably get the guy who is helping you out arrested.