title: Lightning safety guidelines.
abstract: On average, lightning causes more casualties annually in the United States than any other storm-related phenomenon except floods. Although 90% of those injured survive, they may have permanent sequelae and disability. Many of these people incur injuries or are killed by lightning because of misinformation and inappropriate behavior during thunderstorms. A few simple precautions can reduce lightning injury risk. To standardize recommended actions during thunderstorms, the Lightning Safety Group (LSG), composed of lightning experts from many lightning-related backgrounds, met at the American Meteorological Society meeting Phoenix, AZ, in January 1998 to collectively address personal lightning safety. This paper is a summary of the recommendations developed by the LSG.
authors.affiliation: Wxline, Tucson, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
authors.forename: Mary Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Ronald L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Holle
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008030:Lightning; D015168:Lightning Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D014481:United States