When thunder roars, head indoors

The weekend death of a Beltzville State Park swimmer during an intense summer storm that produced vivid cloud-to-ground lightning is another sobering reminder of the dangers of summer fun in the sun.

The 38-year-old Camden, New Jersey, man was killed and a friend and his two children were injured when lightning struck while they swam at the popular swimming beach located in Franklin and Towamensing townships.

It was one of at least three incidents involving lightning strikes and injuries during the weekend. The others were in New York state.

Four people were injured Saturday following a lightning strike at Lake George Battleground State Park

Five people were injured after a lightning strike inside a park in Poughkeepsie on Friday afternoon.

In the case of the Beltzville death, authorities say the lightning hit the water but not the swimmers directly. Water, however, is the perfect conductor of electricity. The Camden man emerged from the lake but collapsed along the beach. Rangers said the other three showed signs of electrical shock, but it was revealed later that the daughter was not hurt. The injured were treated at Palmerton Hospital.

While lightning is a year-round danger in some parts of the country, more people are killed or injured during the summer months than at any other time of the year.

Nearly 62 percent of all lightning deaths occur while people are participating in leisure-time activities. There are times when storms emerge out of nowhere, and at-risk bathers or revelers have no time to react. At other times, however, people ignore the potential dangers of lightning so they do not disrupt events that have been in the works for months.

A sound rule of thumb is: "When thunder roars, head indoors.

The best protection from lightning is a sturdy enclosed building. Picnic pavilions, tents, gazebos and other structures, which don't have walls do not give enough protection. If a secure building is not available, a car can give protection, too. Open vehicles and golf carts are not safe, however.

While most people who are injured just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, there are some common-sense protections everyone can take; some obvious, others not as much:

Check the weather forecast before planning an outdoor event. If camping, for example, if there is the risk of a storm, set up your site near your vehicle and don't stray too far from it. Avoid going in a kayak or canoe if the weather conditions look iffy.

At the first sound of thunder or if you see lightning, make your way to cover. Avoid open fields and the tops of hills. Don't stand underneath trees or in an unsecured shelter. Get out of the water immediately.

Lightning can strike a person directly, but people are more likely to be injured by indirect contact, such as was the case in the Beltzville incident. When lightning hits trees, those nearby are at risk of being injured. If you cannot find reasonable shelter after a storm hits, crouch as low to the ground as possible, but do not lie down on the ground or put your hands down. Stay on just your feet to cover as little ground as possible. You also want to be as low as you can to reduce your risks of being a lightning conduit. Stay away from anything that is a good electrical conductor.

When indoors, do not use corded phones or other plugged-in electronics. Don't take a shower or wash dishes or clothes. Stay away from doors and windows. Don't go out onto balconies or porches to get a better look at the storm. Unplug electronics before the storm arrives, but do not try to unplug them once the storm has begun. Remember your pets, too. A doghouse is not a safe structure during an electrical storm, so take your pet indoors. Keep cats out of windows.

The 30-year average for annual deaths from lightning in the United States is 55. Injuries can include severe burns, cardiac arrest and neurological damage. According to medical experts, lightning strikes can cause long-lasting injuries, memory loss, chronic pain, seizures and other afflictions.

When it comes to summer fun, go for it, but failing to heed the approach of a thunderstorm is always a bad idea. Just remember to err on the side of caution when the safety of you, your family and friends is involved.

By Bruce Frassinelli | tneditor@tnonline.com