Lightning and sport – hazards and safeguards
This information provides information on developing a lightning safety plan.
It is estimated that lightning strikes the earth around 6000 times per minute and within Australia, it poses a greater threat to individuals than almost any other natural hazard.
Each year people are killed or injured by lightning due to misinformation and inappropriate behaviour during thunderstorms. There has been a decrease in the number of lightning casualties in farming and outdoor work and an increase in sports-related casualties. With large crowds gathering to participate in or watch an outdoor event, the potential exists for mass casualties to occur from a lightning strike at any one venue.
In Australia, lightning accounts for five to 10 deaths a year and well over one hundred injuries annually. A large percentage of lightning strike victims survive but many of these suffer from severe life-long injury and disability.
Statistics show that approximately 25 per cent of people killed by lightning are playing sport.
When thunderstorms threaten, teachers, officials and coaches must not let the desire to start or complete a carnival or a coaching session hinder their judgment when the safety of athletes, officials or spectators is in jeopardy.
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