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RRBL Lightning Safety Policy
Old Settlers Park does not have a lightning detection system. Parents/guardians have the ultimate responsibility for the safety of their children.
No lightning safety policies can guarantee total safety, but the following steps can help avoid lightning incidents. Above all, use your common sense and err on the side of safety. If there is any possibility of lightning, immediately suspend outdoor activities until the threat has passed.
LIGHTNING SAFETY GUIDELINES
Board members, when present at the fields for scheduled events, will monitor the weather and local radar. However, at all times, team coaches and parents should check the weather and local radar before every practice, game, and other outdoor activity. If there are thunderstorms in the area, the coaches and the officials should consider postponing or suspending the activity. Parents/guardians are ultimately responsible for the safety o
If you see dark clouds and the winds increase in intensity, parents and coaches should be on alert for the potential for a threat of lightning.
There is a threat of lightning if:
- You can see lightning.
- You can hear thunder.
- A lightning detector indicates lightning within 10 miles of the park. There are now “lightning detector” apps such as “Spark”, by Weatherbug. However, it is unclear how effective they are determining actual distance. You should not rely solely upon them, but rather should use them as additional sources of information. If the mobile app indicates there is lightning within 10 miles of the park, you should consider that to be a threat of lightning.
If there is a threat of lightning, then all activities must be immediately stopped and parents or coaches should proceed as follows:
- Get everyone off the fields and out of the dugouts. Instruct everybody to get to a safe place. The bleachers and dugouts are NOT considered a safe place from lightning strikes.
- Leave all equipment and related items on the fields.
- Avoid sheds, small or open shelters, dugouts, bleachers, or grandstands.
Substantial, sturdy buildings provide the best protection. If you go inside, stay away from the windows, corded telephones, wiring, and plumbing. If you cannot get into a sturdy building, the next safest place is probably a hard-topped metal vehicle with closed windows. Try not to touch the metal or the windows.
In all cases you must stop all activities and everyone should seek shelter if any of the following occur:
- You receive a text or email alert from the league to suspend all activities due to lightning in the area or league officially verbally tell you to suspend all activities
- You can hear thunder
- Using a lightning detector app (on your mobile device) such as Weather Bug, lightning is shown within 10 miles of the fields.
- You can see lightning and do not have access to a lightning detector app to determine the distance.
Do not resume the event until at least 30 minutes have passed since the last visible lightning or sound or thunder. Generally, this means you should call the game or practice and reschedule for a later time.
When league officials are present at the fields for games or tournaments, they will determine when play may resume.
Parents/guardians have the ultimate responsibility for the safety of their children.
