It’s often said “What you don’t know, can’t hurt you.” Absolutely wrong!! Ignorance can sometimes result in terrible tragedies in relation to lightning. If you’re going to enjoy outdoor activities this summer, it’s imperative to know some lightning basics. Lightning’s behavior is random and unpredictable, but preparedness and quick response are the best defenses towards the lightning hazard. The American Red Cross offers this safety information concerning lightning.
Levels of Lightning Safety Guidance
Level-1: Plan your activities around the weather to avoid the lightning strike hazard. If you are going to be outside, know the weather forecast beforehand. Know the local weather patterns.
Level-2: While outside, use the “30-30 Rule” to know when it’s time to seek a safer location. When you see lightning, count the time until you hear the thunder. If this time is 30 seconds or less, go to a safer place immediately. If you don’t see the lightning, just hearing the thunder is a good back up rule to use to take cover. Then, wait 30 minutes or more after hearing the last thunder before leaving the safer location.
Level-3: Go to a safer location immediately when required. The safest place commonly available is a large fully enclosed substantially constructed building. Once inside, stay away from any electrical conducting path from the outside, like corded telephones, electrical appliances, and plumbing. If you can’t get to a substantial building, a vehicle with a solid metal roof and sides is a reasonable second choice. Take shelter in the vehicle with the windows rolled up.
Level-4: If you can’t get to a safer location, avoid the most dangerous locations and activities. Avoid higher elevations, wide-open areas, tall isolated objects, water-related activities, and open vehicles. Avoid unprotected open structures like picnic pavilions, rain shelters, ballpark dugouts, and bus stop shelters. DO NOT GO UNDER TREES TO KEEP DRY DURING THUNDERSTORMS! REMEMBER TREES “ATTRACT” LIGHTNING!
Level-5: USE THIS ONLY AS A DESPERATE LAST RESORT! If you are outside and far away from a safer place, proceed to the safest low-level location. If lightning is imminent, it will often give a few seconds of warning: hair standing up, tingling skin, light metal objects vibrating, seeing corona discharge, and/or hearing a crackling sound.
Avoid being the tallest object around … get as low as you can, but don’t lie prone on the ground. Use the lightning crouch – put your feet together, squat down, tuck your head, and cover your ears. If you are in a group, spread out so there are several body lengths between each person. Once spread out, all should use the lightning crouch. When the immediate threat of lightning has passed, continue heading to the safest place possible.
Level-6: The first step in lightning first aid is to call 911. All deaths from lightning are from cardiac arrest or stopped breathing at the time of the strike. CPR or mouth-to-mouth-resuscitation is the recommended first aid. No lightning safety guidelines will provide 100% guaranteed total safety, but these steps will help you avoid the vast majority of lightning casualties. Lightning is THE MOST underrated weather hazard – more people are killed by lightning annually than by any other weather phenomenon.
Weather is so unpredictable and severe that people need to be aware and practice safety every day!
Cash Calendar for the Month of June, based on the Big Four Evening Lottery numbers will benefit the Clearfield-Jefferson Red Cross. Four sets of numbers gives you four Chances to win every day in June. Tickets are $5.00 and there are cash prizes of $50 or $100 per day. Tickets make great gifts for friends, family or co-workers and are available at the Red Cross offices.
| Did you know that the Chapter offers Babysitting classes? This class is available for students from age 11-15, and teaches care-giving skills! Students will learn to handle an emergency, illness, perform minor first aid, make responsible decisions and keep children safe.
They will also learn basic skills such as feeding, diapering, and preparing meals and snacks. Participants will receive a book, two certificates and a first aid kit. To register or for more information, please call 814-765-5516 or 814-849-2712. |
| First Aid for Children Today: A program to help children ages 5 to 8 understand the important role they have in managing their own health and safety as well as the health of the environment in which they live.
Poison Control: This course introduces the concept of poisonous products and/or things in our homes in a fun and entertaining way. This demonstrates prevention and the importance of telling a grown-up of a suspected occurrence of poisoning. Basic Aid Training: Introduces children ages 8-11 to safety information and first aid procedures for breathing difficulties, bleeding, poisoning, burns, shock and other emergencies. Scrubby Bear: This program teaches children ages 4 to 7 how germs are spread, how to prevent the spread of disease, and how to properly wash their hands. |
| First Aid for Children Today: A program to help children ages 5 to 8 understand the important role they have in managing their own health and safety as well as the health of the environment in which they live.
Poison Control: This course introduces the concept of poisonous products and/or things in our homes in a fun and entertaining way. This demonstrates prevention and the importance of telling a grown-up of a suspected occurrence of poisoning. Basic Aid Training: Introduces children ages 8-11 to safety information and first aid procedures for breathing difficulties, bleeding, poisoning, burns, shock and other emergencies. Scrubby Bear: This program teaches children ages 4 to 7 how germs are spread, how to prevent the spread of disease, and how to properly wash their hands. |
Health & Safety Classes:
A Lifeguard Training course will be held at the Brookville YMCA beginning May 1 at 7:00am and May 2, 2010.
Call 849-2712 to register.
Attention Childcare providers! Pediatric First Aid and Infant Child CPR classes for child care providers will be held at the Clearfield Red Cross office on May 22, 2010. Information and registration are available on the PA KEYS Web site.
A CPR for the Professional Rescuer course is scheduled on May 15, 2010 for recertification only at the Clearfield Red Cross office at 9:00 a.m. Lifeguards who need this course, call 765-5516 to register.
Adult CPR – Clearfield –May 5 and 19
Brookville – May 18
Punxsutawney – May 3
Infant Child CPR– Clearfield – May 6
First Aid – Clearfield – May 20
Brookville – May 20
Punxsutawney – May 4
Call 765-5516 in Clearfield or 849-2712 in Brookville & Punxsutawney to register for classes or place an order.
Visit the Clearfield-Jefferson Chapter Web site for all the local Red Cross news.
Clearfield Bloodmobile Schedule
May 5 Presbyterian Church Clfd. 12:00-6:00
May 7 Fixed Site 440 Front Place 12:00-6:00
May 21 Fixed Site 440 Front Place 12:00-6:00
May 31 Fixed Site 440 Front Place 12:00-6:00
Jefferson County Bloodmobile Schedule
| Friday, May 7 | First Church of God – Punxsutawney | 12-6 |
| May 11 | Brockway Presbyterian Church | 12-6 |
| May 14 | Assumption of the Blessed Virgin-Sykesville | 12-6 |
| May 21 | Brookville Borough Complex | 12-6 |
| May 25 | St. Mary’s Church-Reynoldsville | 1-7 |
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation’s blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission.
Disaster financial assistance averages from $1500 to $2000 for a family of four for immediate emergency needs. Won’t you help meet those needs through your donation to your local American Red Cross? Checks may be sent to Clearfield-Jefferson Chapter, 1100 S. Second St. Suite 2, Clearfield, Pa 16830, or Clearfield-Jefferson Chapter, 18 Western Ave, Brookville, Pa 15825. VISA and MasterCard are accepted.
Red Cross is a United Way and United Fund Participating Agency and RSVP Station.