Summer Is Here, Be Lightning Aware

With summer officially begun, two groups focused on educating organizations and individuals about lighting highlight National Lighting Safety Awareness Week (June 24-30).

For 2018, National Lightning Safety Awareness Week is June 24-30, and the Lightning Protection Institute (LPI) has designated Protecting “People, Property and Places” as the focus of this year’s safety campaign. With summer officially begun on June 21, LPI and partner organizations are reminding organizations and individuals that more people are killed and injured by lightning during the summer months than any other time of year. LPI points out that many lightning deaths and injuries in the U.S. happen when people simply opt for convenience instead of disrupting outdoor plans.

lightning safety
Lightning strikes in Temescal Valley, CA. (photo courtesy of Willi Wilkens)

Recognizing lightning’s underrated dangers, the National Weather Service (NWS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), launched the National Lightning Safety Awareness Week campaign in 2001. Since the beginning of the campaign, lightning deaths in the U.S. have significantly dropped — with an all-time record low of 16 deaths reported last year. Unfortunately, property and structural losses due to lightning continue to rise with reports of lightning fires occurring daily in states across the U.S.

”National Lightning Safety Awareness Week is a good time to learn more about the dangers of lightning. We want people to understand these dangers so they make more informed decisions to protect themselves, their family, and their property,” said John Jensenius, National Weather Service lightning safety specialist.

“As the media continues to share daily reports of devastating home and building fires sparked by lightning — in nearly every part of the country — we are reminding property owners, builders, insurance providers and fire safety professionals that these losses can be prevented when lightning protection systems are installed for structures,” shared Bud Van Sickle, executive director for the Lightning Protection Institute (LPI).

In support of this year’s Lightning Safety Awareness Week, June 24-30, LPI is stressing the importance of protecting people, property and places. Together, with partners at the National Lightning Safety Council (NLSC), LPI is promoting awareness and sharing safety information throughout the week on these seven topics:

June 24: An Introduction to Lightning and Lightning Safety
June 25: The Science of Lightning and Thunder
June 26: 
Lightning Safety Outdoors
June 27: Lightning Safety Indoors
June 28: Lightning Safety and Sports Activities
June 29: Medical Effects on Lightning Victims
June 30: 
Protecting Your Home from Lightning

LPI and NLSC invite educators, public officials, and other stakeholders to help build lightning safe communities. LPI is a not-for-profit, nationwide group that supports lightning safety awareness and education and is a leading resource for lightning protection and safety standard-compliant system requirements. NLSC is a resource to learn about lightning safety and risk reduction.