Brookwood Athletic Association for Baseball and Softball Lightning Safety Plan ____________________________________________________
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Suspension of a game or activity can be called by a BAAB Board Member or Umpire. In the event that a game or activity is suspended, everyone MUST leave the field. Please seek shelter immediately in your car, in the bathrooms, or in the concession stands. Do NOT seek shelter under the concession stand overhangs, as this is not a safe area. Notification of continuation of games or activities will be communicated by the Board Member blowing the air horn from both concession stands. To ensure uniformity and the safety of all players, coaches and spectators the continuation of games or activities can ONLY be initiated by the BAAB Board Member. Please DO NOT re-enter the field area until the continuation of play has been initiated by the BAAB Board Member.
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Revised January 2009
BAAB Thunderstorm and Lightning Policy
Purpose of This Policy:
Over the past century, lightning has consistently been 1 of the top 3 causes of weather-related deaths in this country. It kills approximately 100 people and injures hundreds more each year. Lightning is an enormous and widespread danger to the physically active population, due in part to the prevalence of thunderstorms in the afternoon to early evening during the late spring to early fall and a societal trend toward outdoor physical activities. Worldwide, approximately 2000 thunderstorms and 50 to 100 lightning flashes occur every second. In 1997, the National Lightning Detection Network recorded nearly 27,000,000 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes in the United States.
Weather Watcher:
Recommendation: A designated weather watcher (ie, a person who actively looks for the signs of threatening weather and notifies the chain of command if severe weather becomes dangerous). This person can be any of 3 BAAB Board Members on duty. Additionally, Umpire, Manager, Coach, Volunteer or Parent that sees lightning or hears thunder while at the park is highly encouraged to bring it to the attention of the Board Member, Umpire or Manager. A Board Member or Umpire has the authority to call for the suspension of a game at any time lightning is seen or thunder is heard at the park. A Board Member or Umpire has the authority to postpone or suspend a game or activity EVEN if a thunderstorm appears imminent before or during a game or activity (regardless of whether lightning is seen or thunder heard) until the hazard has passed. Signs of imminent thunderstorm activity are darkening clouds, high winds, and thunder or lightning activity.
Suspension of Game:
Recommendation: A Board Member or Umpire has the authority to call for the suspension of a game at any time lightning is seen or thunder is heard at the park. A Board Member or Umpire has the authority to postpone or suspend a game or activity EVEN if a thunderstorm appears imminent before or during a game (regardless of whether lightning is seen or thunder heard) until the hazard has passed. Communication of the suspension of games and activities is done by a Board Member. The Board Member will blow the air horn from both concession stands. Signs of imminent thunderstorm activity are darkening clouds, high winds, and thunder or lightning activity. Also, a Flash-to-Bang count of 30 seconds or less should be used as a minimal determinant of when to suspend activities. For example, thirty seconds divided by five produces six. In this example, this thunderstorm is approximately 6 miles away. A typical thunderstorm travels at approximately 25 miles per hour. Using this data and the above example, this thunderstorm will be exactly on top of the park in 15 minutes or less. Once activities have been suspended, wait at least 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder or lightning flash before resuming an activity or returning outdoors. Notification of game or activity suspension is by the air horn that resides in the Main Concession Stand. The walkie-talkies should also be utilized for notification when a call for suspension of a game or activity has been called. Any Manager or Coach that does not immediately adhere to the Lightning Safety Policy will appear before the BAAB Disciplinary Committee.
Safe Structure/ Location:
Recommendation: Seeking a safe structure or location at the first sign of lightning or thunder activity is highly recommended. By the time the flash-to-bang count approaches 30 seconds (or is less than 30 seconds), all individuals should already be inside or should immediately seek a safe structure or location.
The primary choice for a safe location from the lightning hazard is any substantial, frequently inhabited building. The electric and telephone wiring and plumbing pathways aid in grounding a building, which is why buildings are safer than remaining outdoors during thunderstorms. It is important not to be connected to these pathways while inside the structure during ongoing thunderstorms. The secondary choice for a safer location from the lightning hazard is a fully enclosed vehicle with a metal roof and the windows closed. Convertible cars and golf carts do not provide protection from lightning danger. It is important not to touch any part of the metal framework of the vehicle while inside it during ongoing thunderstorms. In the case of Bethesda Park, ALL Players, Spectators, Umpires, Managers, Coaches, Volunteers and Board Members should leave the field(s) of play and seek shelter in their cars in the parking lot or in the bathrooms or concession stands (not under the concession stand overhang). The area under the overhang of the concession stand is NOT a safe structure or location.
Resumption of Game:
Recommendation: Once activities have been suspended, wait at least 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder or lightning flash before resuming an activity or returning outdoors. Resumption of a game or activity can ONLY be called by a BAAB Board Member. Notification of a call for resumption of a game or activity can be done by a Board Member walking around the park and through the parking lot blowing the air horn. Hearing the air horn 30 minutes AFTER the fields have been evacuated means that the fields are playable and games or activities will resume. Lightning Strike: Recommendation: In the unfortunate event of a lightning strike that injures a person, defibrillators are available in each of the 2 Concession Stands. All BAAB Board Members have been trained on the correct use of the defibrillators.
Source: National Athletic Trainers’ Association Position Statement: Lightning Safety for Athletics and Recreation-Journal of Athletic Training