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Old 06-23-2008, 02:24 AM   #4
CanisLupusArctos
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Safety first. If you honestly feel you are in danger by being on the water, and maintaining no-wake is putting you in even more danger, get off the water.

If you can hear the thunder, you are close enough to be hit. Boats on open water are among the most likely objects to be hit, for being the highest around. Below decks, and not touching anything metal, is the safest place to be. Underneath canvas doesn't count as below decks.

The most dangerous part of the storm is up to 20 miles ahead of it, where bolts from clear blue sky, originating from storms farther off, have killed people.

After the storm, high school athletics in NH do not resume game play after lightning delay until a certain amount of time has passed since the last thunder.

Delay between lightning and thunder: 5 seconds = 1 mile.

Most lightning strike victims are struck indirectly. Direct hits usually kill instantly and are rare. Indirect hits often cause cardiac arrest that is easily remedied by CPR/defibrillation. Lightning strike victims do NOT hold a charge. Just make sure that you and the victim are not in danger of being hit again. Even if there is no apparent injury following a lightning strike, an ER visit is always best, to check for possible nerve or cardiac damage. Lightning also causes electrical burns, which should be treated as you'd treat any other burns - only after you've made sure the person is breathing & pulsing.
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