PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT   
   NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR   
   600 AM CDT WED JUN 24 2015   
      
   ...LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK...   
      
   The National Weather Service has declared the week of June   
   21st through the 27th as LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK. This   
   is the third of five public information statements to be issued   
   by the National Weather Service office in Little Rock   
   containing details about lightning.   
      
   Today`s topic is LIGHTNING SAFETY AND SPORTS ACTIVITIES.   
      
   Whether you are out kicking a ball, or at a major sports event,   
   you should be prepared to go to a safe place when thunderstorms   
   are near. Nationwide, 29 people participating in sports activities   
   (golf, soccer, running, baseball, football) were killed by lightning   
   from 2006 to 2013. In many cases, those involved in the activities   
   failed to realize the developing danger.   
      
   For anyone outside, you are already in danger if thunder is heard.   
   Officials in charge of organized sports should have a lightning   
   safety plan, and those involved in the sport should understand   
   the plan and know what to do.   
      
   The plan should include the following:   
      
   - where participants and spectators go for safety   
   - when the event should be stopped   
   - when the event should be resumed   
   - who is in charge of making weather-related safety decisions   
      
   It is also important to designate a person to watch the sky   
   and keep those in charge informed of changing weather   
   conditions.   
      
   For stadiums and larger venues, the National Weather Service has   
   toolkits which provide templates to help design a safety plan.   
   Those toolkits can be found at:   
      
   WWW.LIGHTNINGSAFETY.NOAA.GOV/LARGE_VENUES.SHTML   
      
   Remember that there is no safe place outside in a thunderstorm.   
   When thunder roars, go indoors!   
      
   Question: Is golf the most dangerous sports activity with respect   
   to lightning?   
      
   Answer: From 2006 to 2013, soccer contributed to more   
   sports-related lightning fatalities than golf. During   
   that time, there were 12 soccer fatalities, 8 for golf,   
   5 for running, 3 for baseball, and 1 for football.   
      
   Here`s a list of topics for other days this week:   
      
   THURSDAY  Lightning Safety at Work   
   FRIDAY - Lightning Safety Around the Home   
      
      
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