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Swimming Pools and Lightning
Real Life Stories
A bolt of lightning struck a YMCA in 2006. An aquatics class remained in progress in the facility’s indoor pool during the thunderstorm. After the strike, all the class participants reported feeling an undeniable electric shock. Luckily, no injuries were reported, but the fact the shock was felt at all highlights the danger lightning poses to all pools – outdoor and indoor.
Lightning Statistics
- There are approximately 22 million cloud-to-ground lightning flashes annually in the United States.
- Lightning can travel 1,000 feet in a millionth of a second.
- Lightning is one of the leading causes of weather-related deaths. An estimated 400 people are struck by lightning every year in the United States, with an average of 62 cases resulting in death.
- Over the last 30 years, the average annual number of deaths attributed to lightning is greater than tornados or hurricanes.
- Water-related activities or locations account for the second largest category of all lightning-related incidents.
Loss Prevention Recommendations
Recognize the Threat
Understand that injury and death can occur if individuals are in the facility’s indoor swimming pool during a lightning strike storm.
Educate Staff
Make sure all employees and volunteers are aware of the hazard lightning poses to indoor pools. If they are aware of the potential dangers, they will be more inclined to evacuate themselves and other members from indoor pool areas in the event of a lightning storm.
Monitor Weather
Use the internet or weather stations to monitor local forecasts. Keep staff alerted to approaching storms and allow them to prepare to evacuate the pool. Make sure individuals using the pool are aware of potential storms so they can quickly alert members to exit the pool.
React Quickly
Storms can move quickly and materialize from seemingly nowhere. A clear, understood, and well-practiced indoor pool evacuation procedure will help avoid costly delays.
Respond Safely
Organization is critical in ensuring that evacuations occur quickly and safely. Staff awareness will help prevent panic and ensure an organized process. The potential hazard of numerous swimmers panicking and running from the pool poses a serious slip and fall threat, which is why it is so important to ensure order during the pool evacuation process.
Establish Predetermined Meeting Place
Once lighting or thunder is observed and a pool evacuation is called for, it is important to have a meeting place for pool patrons. Staff should direct members to this safe place, making it easier to account for everyone who was in the pool.
Enforce the 30-Minute Rule
All pool activities should be suspended for 30 minutes after thunder is last heard. Lightning storms are unpredictable and move quickly; waiting 30 minutes will ensure the storm has safely passed. It is also important to note that the 30 minute count needs to be restarted if any lightning or thunder is observed. For example, if there is silence for 25 minutes and thunder is heard it is necessary to wait a full 30 minutes more before it is safe to go back into the pool.