Lightning Guidelines
GUIDELINES FOR ADDRESSING THUNDERSTORMS & VISIBLE LIGHTNING
The following information should be viewed as guidelines to be considered when playing or training during periods of approaching thunderstorms or visible lightning. These guidelines have been prepared with guidance and input from Todd Van Vliet (President) and Gerry Barstead, CRSP, CRM, NCSO (Safety Officer), Environmental Refuelling Systems, Inc., Edmonton, Alberta and have been developed in accordance with the accepted standards of workrelated safety in relation to thunder/ lightning storms.
1. Designate a chain of command. One person monitors an approaching storm and advises the
person in charge (referee) who has the responsibility of evacuating the athletes. Should a Match
Commissioner or Tournament Commissioner be appointed they should accept responsibility for
monitoring the storm. If no such person is appointed the referee should delegate this role to
the touch judge who is in position to watch the approaching storm. During a training session it
would be prudent for the coach to appoint a responsible adult to perform this role.
2. Plan in advance the evacuation of athletes. During evacuation, the athletes should be directed
to a location that offers protection from the storm by having at least three walls and a roof.
Metal structures are not considered adequate protection because lightning can travel along the
metal and strike people inside the structure. Avoid standing or sitting in vehicles under a single
tree or a small group of trees, close to a large body of water, in open areas or close to Antenna
Towers. Avoid using telephones including cellular telephones.
3. In the event of an approaching thunderstorm with visible lightning the person monitoring the approaching storm should utilize the “Flash/Bang” (F/B) technique to determine the proximity of
the approaching storm.
4. The “Flash/Bang” technique means that for every count of three from the time the lightning bolt
is seen to the time when the associated thunder is heard the lightning is approximately 1 km
distant. A “Flash/Bang” count of 9 indicates that the storm is approximately 3 kilometers distant
(approximately 2 miles). A “Flash/Bang” count of 15 indicates the storm is approximately 5
kilometers distant (approximately 3 miles).
5. When thunder is heard and a ‘Flash/Bang” of 30 is calculated (representing approximately 10
kilometers) it is an indication that a thunderstorm is in the area and the person responsible for
storm monitoring should be on alert.
6. If the “Flash/Bang” intensity increases to a level of 9 or approximately 3 kilometers the referee (or coach if it is at a training session) should stop all play and all participants should seek shelter within a building or inside a vehicle in a large group of trees or forest.
7. Once the thunderstorm passes over, the referee should wait until the “Flash/Bang” is 9 or
greater before resuming play.
8. Thunderstorms have a tendency to reverse course and come back over an area that that they
have just passed. The person monitoring the storm should remain vigilant until the storm is out
of sight or the “Flash/Bang” count is 30 or more.
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