Keep Your Summer Fun With Pool Storm Safety Tips
You don’t need a private investigator to explore the mystery behind Florida’s nickname: the Sunshine State. We’ll tell you: During the summertime, it’s hot! The state’s temperatures easily climb into the upper 90s. Florida recorded a 109 degrees on June 29, 1931, hot enough to slow cook a roast.
So, of course, if you’re a kid – or an adult with exuberant tendencies – you set your mind on swimming. But, then again, this is Florida, one of the lightning capitals of the world. So, as afternoon thunderstorms loom, what do you need to know about storm safety when at the pool?
We at Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club keep careful watch on weather conditions to determine when the safe times for swimming are and when to exit the premises. Consider these pool storm safety tips.
Simple Tips Keep You Shockingly Safe
Here are facts about lightning from the National Weather Service:
- Most lightning deaths and injuries occur during the summer.
- Strikes commonly occur near water (indoor and outdoor pools and showers); near and under trees and tall objects; near vehicles and buildings (as opposed to inside); at recreational and open areas (pools, parks and golf courses); and before and after storms arrive.
- The easiest rule for determining lightning distance is the flash-to-bang rule. Count five seconds between seeing the flash and hearing the noise of the thunder. Each five seconds translates into one mile. A ten-second gap means lightning is two miles away. The minimum flash to bang is 30 seconds. Golden Ocala helps to keep the guess work out of this by using an air horn at the golf shop to alert members of lightning.
- Evacuation of pools with unobstructed views should occur at the sound of thunder, which typically becomes audible within 10 miles (that’s 50 seconds).
Here is the National Weather Service’s HANDY pool storm safety rule:
- H: Hand. The hand’s five fingers are for counting the flash to bang.
- A: Awareness. Keep track of the weather forecast.
- N: Notify. Tell people the pool is closed when storms threaten. No showers and no standing outside. Locker rooms are not considered safe either.
- D: Direct. Direct swimmers to safe areas in buildings or cars.
- Y: Your Own Safety. Get out of the area as well. If it’s not safe for swimmers, it’s not safe for you.
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