Summertime has many people splashing and having fun poolside. If you’re having fun in the sun, it pays to keep your eye on the sky, because summertime storms can pop up quickly. Along with hazards like strong wind and heavy rain, summer storms can bring dangerous lightning. According to the National Lightning Safety Institute (NLSI) lightning strikes are random and unpredictable and being prepared is the best defense for staying safe.
When you are in the pool, you are connected to more surface area than you realize. There are water pipes running underground, electric lines powering the pump, gas lines and telephone lines running underground and near the pool and under the pool deck. A lightning strike anywhere in this metallic grid could induce shocks elsewhere— including the swimming pool.
Here are some rules to help keep you safe from thunderstorms in the summer:
- When thunder and/or lightning are first noticed, clear the pool and pool deck and seek shelter. The pool deck, just like the pool, has a large surface area and conductive materials so please vacate the pool and the pool deck and seek shelter.
- Pool activities should remain suspended until thirty minutes after the last thunder is heard or lightning is seen. Lightning can strike from up to 8 miles away!
- When lifeguards and gate attendants are on duty, they are the ones to determine when to get out and when it is safe to get back in.
Don’t take a chance with storms this summer— keep your family and friends safe.
