Struck By Lightning . org

2011 Statistics: 26 killed, 245 injured

 0 dead 0 injured AL  0 dead 4 injured AR 1 dead 0 injured AZ 2 dead 11 injured CA 0 dead 5 injured
CO 0 dead 9 injured DC 0 dead 1 injured FL 1 dead 30 injured GA 0 dead 26 injured GUAM 1 dead 0 injured
IA 0 dead 1 injured ID 0 dead 1 injured IL 0 dead 13 injured IN 0 dead 4 injured KS 1 dead 2 injured
KY 0 dead 4 injured LA 1 dead 5 injured MA  0 dead 9 injured MD 0 dead 1 injured MI 2 dead 17 injured
MN 0 dead 8 injured MO 3 dead 6 injured MS 1 dead 2 injured MT  1 dead 3 injured NC 1 dead 18 injured
NJ 2 dead 9 injured NM 0 dead 2 injured NV 0 dead 4 injured NY 0 dead 5 injured OH 2 dead 5 injured
OK 0 dead 1 injured PA  2 dead 11 injured SC 1 dead 7 injured SD 1 dead 0 injured TN 0 dead 4 injured
TX 0 dead 2 injured UT  3 dead 2 injured VA 0 dead 6 injured VT 0 dead 2 injured WV 0 dead 4 injured
WY 0 dead 1 injured

REMEMBER THERE IS NO PLACE SAFE OUTSIDE IN A THUNDERSTORM!

Lightning Statistics for 2010   /   Lightning Statistics for 2009   /   Lightning Statistics for 2008   

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View Golf Channel Video about Michael Utley's Story

  GIA UTLEY - MASTER.mp4

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Safety thoughts

Last year we ended up with 28 people killed by lightning and 238 injured. These numbers are gathered in a number of ways and over the last 5 years or so have proved to be pretty accurate.

All the fatalities were outside with Sundays being the most dangerous day at 25%, followed by Tuesday with 21%. 3 were direct hits and 19 were Ground strikes. One person was at work when struck. 3 were direct hits.

Of the 238 injuries 21% were on Mondays and 19% on Wednesdays, and the vast majority are ground strikes or indirect hits of some type. 13 of the injured were at work when they were injured, 1 was a direct hit.

Of the 27 indoor injuries Sundays and Mondays were the busiest days with 6 events each, or roughly 22%. Inside the most dangerous place to be is on a computer or in the basement.

We have a searchable database and would like any information you may have on individuals being struck.

Thank You, and PLEASE take head of our safety information.

Struckbylightning.org was formed to fill a need in lightning safety and education.

After being struck by lightning in May of 2000, Michael Utley found his life changed forever. Michael was struck on a golf course, his heart stopped, he spent 38 days in ICU at Brigham & Women’s Hospital and another 3 ½ months in Health/South Rehab.

In the course of his recovery he was told many different things about lightning, lightning safety and recovery, much of the information was outdated, based on old wives tales, or just plain wrong.

Struckbylightning.org was started to dispel the myths about this amazing weather event.

Lightning safety is mostly common sense, planning and paying attention to the weather. There are a lot of myths out there and we hope the safety videos we have put up help to dispel them.

Tell a school teacher that they are up on our site, and help us change the world.

If you need a speaker for your group, Michael is an inspiring speaker with an incredible story, please give us a call.

Thanks for your help.

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Lightning safety has evolved over the years so now when we talk about the 30-30 Rule, instead of standing outside and counting, go inside and count. When Thunder Roars Go Indoors !

The ‘Lightning Squat or Crouch’ is no longer taught since it probably does nothing and give a false sense of security.

Turning stuff off and unplugging stuff has also proved to do nothing except put people in danger while they are doing it.

5 Levels of Lightning Safety

• Schedule out door activities to avoid lightning.

• Know when & where to be in a safe place. When you hear thunder go to a safe place & stay there for 30 minutes after last thunder.

• Avoid dangerous locations/activities (elevated places, open ares, tall isolated objects) & water related activities ( swimming, boating, near water) DO NOT GO UNDER TREES !

• Last minute risk reduction, including the ‘lightning crouch’ is a joke & probably does nothing at all. THERE IS NO PLACE SAFE OUTSIDE IN A THUNDER STORM

• First Aid: Immediately start CPR !

• If you do not follow the 1st 5, call Coroner & Priest

10-Apr-11


Mission


Our purpose is to promote lightning and electrical safety education. We wish to make "When Thunder Roars Go Indoors" as effective for lightning safety as "Stop Drop and Roll" is for fire safety. We want our Safety Magnets in the hands of every elementary school child in the country, and go from there.

Donations


Make a tax-deductable donation to SBL and promote lightning safety. We accept credit cards through PayPal™.

What you'll find here

We have magnets, videos, downloadable posters, games and quizzes, as well as the most in-depth database about lightning strikes.

 


Lightning strikes a watermelon and flashover, pretty cool!

Lightning shoot-out between wood and metal

What happens when lightning strikes a house

Wet or dry, does it help? Ben Franklin said "you cannot electrocute a wet rat". This video shows why.

Did holding to the putter help me survive a lightning strike? Take a look and find out.

There are several ways that lightning can get you. This video shows them in ways never seen before.

You are safe in a car, but not because of the rubber tires. Find out why!


CPR Training


EVERYONE NEEDS TO LEARN CPR!

Interactive Weather Map

Interactive Weather Map!

EVENTS


Waiting for calendar events

Lightning Safety Game


Take a Look at Leon's Lightning Safety Game and Lightning Safety Quiz on our Education Tools page. They are new downloadable games that are humourous and great teaching tools on lightning safety.


DOWNLOAD FREE POSTERS

Leon the Lightning Lion


Click here to download a poster of Leon the Lightning Lion..

Struckbylightning.org is happy to announce a partnership with NOAA, the LPI and the LSA in creating and promoting Leon the Lightning Lion, a safety mascot for the Lightning Protection Industry. Leon will be used to promote lightning safety in our ongoing program to educate children.


Click here to take the Safe or Not Safe Lightning Safety Quiz
Don't Be Lame! End the Game
Leon the Lion warns kids to get inside a safe building when they hear thunder.


Click here to download a poster of Leon the Lightning Lion
..Don't Be A Fool! Get Out of the Pool!
Leon the Lion warns kids to get inside a safe building when they hear thunder.