Question Number: 21115

Other 4/10/2009

RE: Youth rec. (any age) Other

F. C. Deal, Jr. of Baltimore, MD USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 21098

'We were just killing time in the tent waiting for the lightning to pass.'

WHERE? 'KILLING TIME' IS JUST ABOUT RIGHT. IT WAS ALMOST TIME FOR YOU TO GET KILLED. GET IN A BUILDING OR A CAR IF THERE'S DANGER OF LIGHTNING!

(Pardon the 'yelling' or all caps, but lives are in danger.)

Question: Is it common practice to clear the fields because of lightning danger and then sit in a tent?

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

Tents are a terrible place to go in a lightning storm.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Tents beat standing on a hill holding a 2 iron on your shoulder... I should have said something about safety issues while that question was waiting for answers, I didn't. Thank You so much for putting me right.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Nathan Lacy

A tent, as has been noted, is definitely NOT a good choice. This is also a subject area that most coaches, players, AND referees are significantly lacking and irresponsible by not being more knowledgable. Lightning has been known to do many a strange thing to 'seek out' its prey. Being aware of the most reasonable choices of cover given a set of circumstances is something that we all should take more seriously. It is only through increased knowledge and its application that we can make reasonable and potentially life-saving decisions. For example, some think that if lightning is a certain distance away that they are safe. Well, this is one of those 'ain't necessarily so' items and I use here simply as an example that what we have heard may not be based in fact and/or experience. So, while my answer extends beyond the specifics or your question I trust it's helpful. All the best,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Thanks for catching this. Tents are horrible places to go in a lightning storm. Cars a better choice if no building available