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Keeping the game safe
NOAA
teams with Little League Baseball on lightning safety awareness
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[JUNE 20, 2005]
WASHINGTON --
When the thunder that Little Leaguers hear is not the roar of the
crowd, it is time to get inside, because lightning may be close
behind. That's why the U.S. Commerce Department's National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration National Weather Service has teamed
up with Little League Baseball to provide valuable lifesaving
information regarding the dangers of lightning.
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"NOAA is proud to partner with Little League Baseball on our effort
to educate the public on the dangers of lightning -- and
particularly the coaches, umpires, parents and children who are
involved with Little League Baseball and Softball," said retired
Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., undersecretary of
commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator.
"Lightning is an underrated killer, claiming, on average, more lives
than either tornadoes or hurricanes."
Little League Baseball has been proactive in providing lightning
safety information to officials across the country through the
league's safety newsletter, ASAP, which is an acronym for A Safety
Awareness Program. In the November-December 2003 newsletter, Little
League Baseball included a copy of a "Coach's and Sports Official's
Guide to Lightning Safety," developed by NOAA's National Weather
Service. Previously, the April 2002 issue of ASAP included an
article written by NOAA on lightning safety.
"The safety of our players, parents, coaches and spectators is of
utmost importance to us," said Stephen D. Keener, president and
chief executive officer of Little League Baseball and Softball.
"Lightning is one of our greatest concerns on the field, and we
appreciate the safety information that NOAA provides to us. We want
everyone involved in Little League Baseball to understand the
dangers of lightning so that they will take the appropriate action
when thunderstorms threaten."
"The bottom line is that if you hear thunder, you need to get
inside immediately," said retired Air Force Brig. Gen. David L.
Johnson, director of NOAA's National Weather Service. "Lightning can
strike up to 10 miles from a thunderstorm, which is about the
distance that the sound of thunder can travel and be heard. All
thunderstorms produce lightning, and each lightning strike is a
potential killer."
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 Lightning casualties can occur at any time of the year but are
most frequent in the late spring and summer thunderstorm season,
when people tend to be outside. Annually, about 25 million
cloud-to-ground lightning strikes occur in the United States. From
1971 to 2000, lightning killed an average of 73 people each year in
the United States and injured hundreds more.
NOAA's National Weather Service is the primary source of weather
data, forecasts and warnings for the United States and its
territories. The National Weather Service operates the most advanced
weather and flood warning and forecast system in the world, helping
to protect lives and property and enhance the national economy.
NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national
safety through the prediction and research of weather and
climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of
our nation's coastal and marine resources.
On the Web:
[National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration news release]
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