During the period between 2006 and 2017, 368 people died from lightning strikes in the U.S., with about two-thirds of them occurring during outdoor recreational activities. Fishing topped the list with 34 fatalities. Boating also ranked high with 17 deaths, and there were nine golfing victims.
Among those fishermen who died was Lorenzo Magdaleno, 51, a veteran angler and member of the Florida Bass Federation and Homestead Hawg Hunters club, who died June 8, 2012, during the final day of the TBF Southern Division Championship on Florida's Lake Okeechobee.
He and his partner, Mike Hardin, were fishing approximately 45 minutes away from the tournament launch area. Magdaleno was running the trolling motor at the time, while Hardin, the boat owner, was on the back deck and got knocked off his feet by the strike. He remembered waking up after an undetermined amount of time and not knowing what exactly had happened. Hardin was examined at the local hospital and released, but Magdaleno didn't survive.
"People often wait far too long to head to safety when a storm is approaching, and that puts them in a dangerous and potentially deadly situation," said John Jensenius, a lightning safety specialist with the National Weather Service (NWS).
"Each year," he continued, "thunderstorms produce an estimated 20 to 25 million cloud-to-ground lightning flashes in the United States, and each one of those flashes is a potential killer. Some flashes strike directly under the storm, where it is raining, but others reach out away from the storm, where people perceive the lightning threat to be low or nonexistent. These often catch people by surprise."
For the record, lightning can strike from 10 miles away, so if people can hear thunder, they are in immediate danger. Many lightning deaths occur ahead of storms or after they seemingly have passed.
Fishermen and boaters can best protect themselves by monitoring weather and postponing outdoor activities when thunderstorms are forecast. Consider purchasing a portable, battery-powered, tone-alert NOAA weather radio and installing a weather-alert app on your smartphone. These will allow you to monitor short-term forecasts for changing weather conditions, and their tone-alert features will automatically tell you when the NWS issues a severe thunderstorm watch or warning.
It's also important to remember the NWS's lightning safety motto: When thunder roars, go indoors! The safest place to retreat to is a fully enclosed building with wiring and plumbing. Sheds, picnic shelters, tents, or covered porches do NOT protect you from lightning.
If a sturdy building is not nearby, get into a hard-topped metal vehicle and close all the windows. Stay inside until 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder.
The NWS says if you are out fishing or boating and cannot get back to land and safety, drop anchor and get as low as possible. Large boats with cabins, especially those with lightning-protection systems properly installed, or metal marine vessels, are relatively safe. Remember to stay inside the cabin and away from any metal surfaces. Stay off the radio unless it's an emergency.
If caught outdoors, you also should get away from the water, and do your best to avoid open areas, such as beaches. Don't be the tallest object in the area. Stay away from the tops of hills and ridges, isolated tall trees, towers, or utility poles.
Also stay away from metal conductors, such as wires or fences. Metal does not attract lightning, but it can travel long distances through the metal...the same with water.
For safety's sake, it's also essential for people in charge of activities, such as fishing tournaments, to understand the dangers of lightning, have a lightning safety plan in place, and follow the plan when thunder is heard or lightning is seen. The plan should give clear and specific guidelines to eliminate errors in judgment. These questions should be addressed in the plans:
* When should activities be stopped? (When thunder is heard, lightning is seen, skies look threatening, or warnings are issued.)
* Where should people go for safety? (Designate specific locales if possible; otherwise, follow general guidelines outlined earlier.)
* When should activities be resumed? (No sooner than 30 minutes after the last thunder is heard.)
* Who should monitor the weather and make the decision to stop activities? (A designated person or persons with access to weather-warning systems who know the safety plan's guidelines and are empowered to assure the guidelines are followed.)
Despite all precautions, it's still possible someone could be struck by lightning. If that happens, it's important that others on the scene act fast. Lightning victims do not carry an electrical charge, are safe to touch, and need urgent medical attention. Some deaths can be prevented if the victim receives the proper first aid immediately.
The NWS says to follow these steps:
* Call for help. Call 911 or your local ambulance service.
* Give first aid. Do not delay CPR if the person is unresponsive or not breathing. Use an automatic external defibrillator if one is available.
* If possible, move the victim to a safer place. Lightning can strike twice. Don't become a victim.
For more information, visit https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning-safety, where you'll find NWS lightning links, forecasts and assessment.
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