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Show 2 TIMES COMMENTARY June 21, 2007 Shocking fact Lightning strikes, fatalities peak during 101 Critical Days of Summer BY CAPT. NATHAN BROSHEAR 505th Command and Control Wing IIMES Wceklv Since Hilltop Times Editorial Staff Col. Scott Chambers 75th Air Base Wing commander Marilu Trainor .. Public Affairs chief 1st Lt. Genieve David Public Affairs internal information chief Airman 1st Class Clayton Murray Hilltop Times Editor Senior Airman Brok McCarthy Hilltop Times Staff Beth Young Hilltop Times Writer Mitch Shaw .Hilltop Times Writer Angela Johnson Design and Layout I was watching the news the other night, and I saw a video of several kids playing in the rain. In the video, a lightning bolt hit the ground near the group, almost knocking them off their feet. "Wow! That was close/' the anchor commented. Close indeed - those children are lucky to be alive. We often joke about lightning strikes as an analogy for a sudden idea or an incident happening infrequently. One might comment, "Lightning doesn't strike twice." Well, in fact, lightning can strike twice...or many times! According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, the government's leading authority on weather phenomenon, there were 3,239 deaths and 9,818 injuries attributable to lightning during the 36yecir period they studied. That's interesting, but the really "shocking" (1 couldn't resist) part of the report is the finding that casualty and damage events caused by Lightning had little variation year to year. Deadlines: Editorial and news items are due by noon on the Thursday prior to print date. For more information call 777-7321. For advertising call 625-4300. In essence, weather events such as hurricanes and tornadoes are devastating, but rare. Lightning, by comparison, is a constant, widespread, and deadly event every year. This is especially timely during the 101 Critical Days of Summer Safety Campaign. Deaths by lightning strikes peak during these months; with July as the number one most deadly month. Once the data is adjusted for population, plains states jump to the top of many of these frightening lists.. .be careful Vance Air Force Base, Okla., and Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. Think you're safe Pennsylvania Air National Guard? Your state is tops in lightning-related property damage. These statistics aren't meant as some kind of scare tactic. During the 101 Critical Days of Summer, you'll hear plenty of factoids and statistics meant to help you think critically about your actions. Summer is a time to relax, but you should never become complacent and ignore commonsense steps to protect yourself and your family from Mother Nature. Action Line Published by Ogden Publishing Corp., a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written contract with Hill AFB. This commercial enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. military services. Contents of the Hilltop Times are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense or the Department of the Air Force. The appearance of advertisements in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of the Air Force or Ogden Publishing Corp., of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the 75th Air Base Wing Public Affairs Office staff in Bldg. 152. Call 777-5201 with story ideas or comments, or send email to •"hilltop.times@hill.af.mil". Call 625-4300 for advertising needs. Unless otherwise indicated, all photos are U.S. Air Force photos. So what can you do to protect tricity to seek a ground. It's no yourself from becoming a surprise NOAA researchers lightning statistic for the next found people involved in NOAA study? recreation and those seeking shelter under trees were statistiFor starters, heed the warncally more likely to be casualties ings of safety staff and the base giant voice. Some bases have of lightning. implemented computer-based Golfers, or people holding "pop-up" warnings to alert staff portable metal lightning rods in of incoming storms. When you a vast open area where their get the notification of "lightning own body is the tallest object, are within five;" go inside! also one of the top groups who became victims of lightning But you can't depend on the strikes. military for every notification. When planning outdoor activiWeather safety doesn't end ties, check local weather reports with the 101 Critical Days of or keep a weather-band radio Summer (the NOAA points out handy. Weather awareness offlightning is a risk year round). If duty is a must; the NOAA study you haven't incorporated found weekends are when most lightning awareness into your lightning victims met their safety training regimen, I demise. encourage you to do so. Every Airman and their family are Don't let male hubris get in the way of weather safety. Listen potential targets of this phenomenon...and during the up tough guys: males are killed by lightning 5.6 times more often 101 Critical Days of Summer, lightning can strike at any than females, usually while moment. trying to finish the "big game" or "one last hole." Your ego will Author's note: Data contained always lose out to voltage. in this article is culled from When the softball game is NOAA Technical Memorandum called off due to a summer NWSSR-193. Check out the full thunderstorm, never wait out the research article at weather under a tree. These tall, www.nssl.noaa.gov/papers/ water filled lightning rods are techmemos/NWS-SR-193/ the preferred method for electechmemo-srl93. 777-7000 action.line.pa@hill.af.mil When you call or send an e-mail, your comments will be recorded and staffed through the agency responsible for action. Please give your supervisor and chain of command the opportunity to work with you in answering~questions~a"rid solving pfoblerris" before calling the Action Line. This will help me better serve your interests. Items of basewide interest will be published in the Hilltop Times. Courtesy photo Phone numbers — The base agencies listed can be contacted directly if you have a complaint or a problem with their services: Security Forces 777-5550 24-hr. Crisis Information 777-3056 Services 777-4134 Base Restaurants 777-2043 In my Opinion... Retirement /Compensation 777-6142 Social Actions 777-3516 Employee Relations 777-7129 ;...V Military Pay 777-1851 *B •> Civilian Pay 777-6246 Air Force Suggestion Program 7776901 J2-, 1G Complaints 777-5305 $\J$ (Left to right) Richard Norman, President of US Protect Corporation; Jodi Kaas, US Protect Employee of the Year; and Col. Scott Chambers, 75th Air Base Wing commander; pose for a photo after presenting Officer Kaas the US Protect Employee of the Year Award. Officer Kaas won the award not just for Hill Air Force Base, but for the entire US Protect Corporation. She was awarded the honor at a ceremony on June 13. (for appointment) IGComplaints 777-5361 (after hours) Fraud, Waste or Abuse 777-5361 75th Medical Group 777-4918 Civil Engineering 777-1856 Hill Pride Hotline 777-7433 Public Affairs 777-5201 Public Affairs Information 777-9696 Control Line Military Housing Maintenance 7772963 Safety Office 777-3333 Union 777-3257 AFOSI Narcotics Hotline 777-1852 Family Assistance Center 775-3090 What is your favorite local dining establishment? THINK SAFETY Hill Air Force Base's total 2007 DUIs: 7 Hill AFB's last DUI: June 17 Unit Involved: Army and Air Force Exchange Services Airmen Against Drunk Driving provide rides when designated drivers, are unavailable. Call 777-1111 anytime to request a ride. o Senior Airman Nathaniel Cook Jeff Rogers Kimberly Echtel 775th Civil Engineer Squadron 75th logistics Readiness Squadron 75th Aerospace Medical Squadron "Taco Bell...because it's cheap!" © O J» "The Timbermine. It has good food and a nice atmosphere." "It probably has to be Outback because I like steak," o Staff Sgt Kevin Dilley 75th Air Base Wing Chapel "Olive Garden. You can fill up on all you can eat breadsticks, soup and salad, and then take your main entree home." o |