General Thunderstorm Discussion (evolved fron news article)

Raiden · Post by **Raiden** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 5:14 pm

I just learned - it's Lightning Safety/Awareness Week.

Awareness Statement 1: There is lightning. (are you aware?)

Awareness Statement 2: Lightning can be hazardous to your health.

Awareness Statement 3: "Lightening" is the present tense of a verb, meaning to make something lighter.

Thanks for telling me this on FRIDAY, National Weather Service.

Walkinghairball · Post by **Walkinghairball** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 7:25 pm

Uh..................... did the name change to protect the innocent????

Raiden · Post by **Raiden** » Sat Jun 26, 2010 12:27 am

Walkinghairball wrote:Uh..................... did the name change to protect the innocent????

Nah, that statue wasn't protected to begin with.

Raiden · Post by **Raiden** » Sat Aug 14, 2010 4:20 pm

Yesterday was a good day.

For some people 13 is an unlucky number.

St John Ambulance volunteers improved the luck of a 13-year-old boy when they treated him after he was struck by lightning - at 13:13 on Friday 13.

The boy was struck at Lowestoft Seafront Air Festival today, Firday 13th, and it was only while the ambulance team was treating him that they noticed the time - 1.13pm.

The unnamed buy suffered a minor burn and was taken to James Paget Hospital, where he is expected to make a full recovery.

Two other people have been treated at the event today for lightning strikes - they were all holding umbrellas at the time.

Rex Clarke, who leads the team of St John Ambulance volunteers at the event, said: ?There?d been very heavy rain all day, but this afternoon we saw a big flash of lightning over the sea and a loud clap of thunder.

'We got a call that someone had been struck by lightning so we immediately sent our paramedics to the scene, followed by an ambulance. Lightning strikes can cause cardiac arrest, but when our volunteers arrived the boy was conscious and breathing.

'We treated two more injuries from lightning burns in the space of twenty minutes - all three people were holding umbrellas at the time, which acts as a conductor for electricity.'

Clive James, first aid expert at St John Ambulance, says: ?The biggest risk of a lightning strike is that it could stop the heart and breathing.

'If this happens, you need to start CPR immediately and call for an ambulance. Other likely effects are burns - which happened in this case - or injuries from being knocked down by the force.

'If the person can walk, move away from the area immediately as lightning can strike in the same place.?

Rain jackets were invented for a reason, friends.