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Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Binghamton NY
325 PM EDT Thu Jun 22 2017

This week, June 18th through 24th, is New York State`s Lightning
Safety Awareness Week.  This is the fourth in a series of five daily
public information statements issued by the National Weather Service
office in Binghamton, NY containing information on lightning and
lightning safety.

Thursday - lightning safety at work

For those who work outside during the summer, lightning is a
potential deadly threat.  While summer is a good time to complete
work outside, it is very important to work in a safe environment.
Any time a thunderstorm is in the area, no place outside is safe.
Between 2006 and 2016, 54 people were struck and killed by lightning
in the United States while at work.  About two thirds of those
killed were farmers, ranchers, roofers, lawn care workers and
construction workers. About 91 percent of the fatalities were male.

Many work activities require extra time to shut down. In these
cases, it is important to monitor weather conditions so that these
activities can end and workers can get to a safe place quickly.
Similar to outdoor activities, workers need to stop what they are
doing immediately and get to a safe place as soon as they hear
thunder.  When thunder roars, go indoors!

Myth of the day-If you`re caught outside during a thunderstorm, you
should crouch down to reduce your risk of being struck.

Fact-Crouching doesn`t make you any safer outdoors. Run to a
substantial building or hard topped vehicle. If you are too far to
run to one of these options, you have no good alternative. You are
NOT safe anywhere outdoors. See our safety page for tips that may
slightly reduce your risk.

The human body does not store electricity. It is perfectly safe to
touch a lightning victim to give them first aid. This is the most
chilling of lightning Myths. Imagine if someone died because people
were afraid to give CPR!

Here`s what will be covered on the final day of Lightning Awareness
week:

Friday - Lightning safety around the home.

For additional information about lightning or lightning safety,
visit NOAA`s lightning safety awareness web site at:

http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/

You can also contact David Nicosia, Warning Coordination
Meteorologist, for NOAA`s National Weather Service in Binghamton at
607-770-9531 x 223 or via email at David.Nicosia@noaa.gov

or

Kat Hawley, Meteorologist, for NOAA`s National Weather Service in
Binghamton at (607) 729-1597 x 4 or via email at
Katherine.Hawley@noaa.gov

$$

KAH