Guidelines for Wellesley College Game Officials, Event Managers, Athletic Trainers and Support Staff to Utilize During Lightning Storms
The purpose of this set of guidelines is to provide information to those responsible for making decisions about suspending and restarting games based on the presence of lightning. Athletic trainers, event managers, and game officials will make the call about starting and stopping competitions.
The current recommendation of the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) is to consider terminating play when the lightning is six miles away (flash-to-bang time of 30 seconds or less). This recommendation was developed as a practical way to make a judgment in situations where other resources such as technology and instrumentation are not available.
As a minimum, NSSL staff strongly recommends that by the time the flash-to-bang count is 30 seconds; all individuals should have left the game site and reached a safe structure or location.
The existence of blue sky and the absence of rain are not protection from lightning. Lightning can, and does, strike as far as 10 miles away from the rain shaft. It does not have to be raining for lightning to strike.
The flash-to-bang method is the easiest and most convenient way to estimate how far away lightning is occurring. Thunder always accompanies lightning, even though its audible range can be diminished because of background noise in the immediate environment and its distance to the observer. To use the flash-to-bang method, count the seconds from the time the lightning is sighted to when the clap of thunder is heard. Divide this number by five to obtain how many miles away the lightning is occurring.
When considering resumption of a game or other outdoor activity or function, NSSL staff recommends that everyone ideally should wait at least 30 minutes after the last flash of lightning or sound of thunder before returning to the field of activity.
IMPORTANT: People struck by lightning DO NOT carry electrical charges. CPR is safe to perform.
(This information was adapted from the NCAA Sports Medicine Handbook and NCAA Championships Severe Weather Policy.)
Evacuation Sites for Each Outdoor Venue:
Charles River venue-evacuate to the nearest boathouse
Nehoiden Golf Course venue–evacuate to the golf house at hole #6
Keohane tennis courts venue–evacuate to the Outdoor Sports Facility for immediate shelter or the Towne Field House.
Soccer game field venue–evacuate to the Outdoor Sports Facility for immediate shelter or go to the Towne Field House.
Softball field venue–evacuate to the Outdoor Sports Facility for immediate shelter or go to the Towne Field House.
Upper practice field venue–evacuate to the Towne Field House.
Turf field/track venue-evacuate to the Outdoor Sports Facility for immediate shelter or go to the Towne Field House.
Cross country competitions–seek shelter at the closest building.
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