Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Weather Watchers
Related: About this forumTen years after tragic 'bolt from the blue,' two simple rules that could save your life
Capital Weather Gang Perspective
Jonathans story: Ten years after tragic bolt from the blue, two simple rules that could save your life
When thunder roars, go indoors! (Brittany Mayes)
By Dan Stillman, Contributing reporter
June 3 at 7:00 AM
Ten years ago, about 60 miles south of Washington, the early-evening skies over Lee Hill Park in Fredericksburg, Va., were sunny and blue when the lives of two children and their families were suddenly, and shockingly, changed forever.
The umpire for a Little League game at the Lee Hill baseball field had suspended play just a few minutes earlier because of lightning in the distance. But with a nonthreatening sky directly overhead, 11-year-old Jonathan Colson and his 12-year-old teammate, Chelal Matos, stayed on the field to play catch.
About 6:25 p.m., the two were struck down by a bolt of lightning that, by all accounts, seemed to come out of nowhere with a bright flash and a loud boom. ... Jonathan laid on the ground without a pulse and unable to breathe, despite CPR being administered by an emergency-room nurse who happened to be on scene. Jonathans pulse did return in the ambulance on the way to the hospital, and he survived. His friend did not.
....
The tragic story of Jonathan and Chelal is a stark reminder of how dangerous lightning can be. It is a reminder that lightning is not only a threat underneath dark skies and pouring rain, but that it can travel horizontally 10 miles or more through clear skies before striking the ground. ... These bolts from the blue are precisely why we say:
When thunder roars, go indoors!
If you are close enough to a storm to hear thunder, then you are close enough to be hit by lightning. ... Likewise, we strongly recommend to:
Wait at least 30 minutes after hearing the last thunder before going back outside.
There is no safe place to be outside during a thunderstorm. The safest place to be is indoors or inside a car (but dont lean on the car doors).
....
Lightning deaths have declined in our region, as well. Longtime Washingtonians may remember the tragic story from the spring of 1991, when 15-year-old Noah Eig was killed and 10 people were injured by lightning at St. Albans School in Northwest Washington, shortly after a lacrosse game between St. Albans and Landon School had been suspended because of heavy rain. In another incident, several people were injured by lightning in the summer of 1998 during a concert at RFK Stadium.
....
You can follow Jonathans story at https://www.facebook.com/thejonathancolsonstory/
Dan Stillman is a meteorologist and editor for the Capital Weather Gang. He earned an M.S. in Meteorology from Texas A&M University, and a B.S. in Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences from the University of Michigan. Follow https://twitter.com/stillmand
Jonathans story: Ten years after tragic bolt from the blue, two simple rules that could save your life
When thunder roars, go indoors! (Brittany Mayes)
By Dan Stillman, Contributing reporter
June 3 at 7:00 AM
Ten years ago, about 60 miles south of Washington, the early-evening skies over Lee Hill Park in Fredericksburg, Va., were sunny and blue when the lives of two children and their families were suddenly, and shockingly, changed forever.
The umpire for a Little League game at the Lee Hill baseball field had suspended play just a few minutes earlier because of lightning in the distance. But with a nonthreatening sky directly overhead, 11-year-old Jonathan Colson and his 12-year-old teammate, Chelal Matos, stayed on the field to play catch.
About 6:25 p.m., the two were struck down by a bolt of lightning that, by all accounts, seemed to come out of nowhere with a bright flash and a loud boom. ... Jonathan laid on the ground without a pulse and unable to breathe, despite CPR being administered by an emergency-room nurse who happened to be on scene. Jonathans pulse did return in the ambulance on the way to the hospital, and he survived. His friend did not.
....
The tragic story of Jonathan and Chelal is a stark reminder of how dangerous lightning can be. It is a reminder that lightning is not only a threat underneath dark skies and pouring rain, but that it can travel horizontally 10 miles or more through clear skies before striking the ground. ... These bolts from the blue are precisely why we say:
When thunder roars, go indoors!
If you are close enough to a storm to hear thunder, then you are close enough to be hit by lightning. ... Likewise, we strongly recommend to:
Wait at least 30 minutes after hearing the last thunder before going back outside.
There is no safe place to be outside during a thunderstorm. The safest place to be is indoors or inside a car (but dont lean on the car doors).
....
Lightning deaths have declined in our region, as well. Longtime Washingtonians may remember the tragic story from the spring of 1991, when 15-year-old Noah Eig was killed and 10 people were injured by lightning at St. Albans School in Northwest Washington, shortly after a lacrosse game between St. Albans and Landon School had been suspended because of heavy rain. In another incident, several people were injured by lightning in the summer of 1998 during a concert at RFK Stadium.
....
You can follow Jonathans story at https://www.facebook.com/thejonathancolsonstory/
Dan Stillman is a meteorologist and editor for the Capital Weather Gang. He earned an M.S. in Meteorology from Texas A&M University, and a B.S. in Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences from the University of Michigan. Follow https://twitter.com/stillmand
I know: it should be "Jonathan lay on the ground," but:
We advise against adding (sic) to indicate incorrect spelling or grammar used by someone being quoted. Many readers have no idea what (sic) means. #APStyleChat (1/3)
Link to tweet
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
0 replies, 1704 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (4)
ReplyReply to this post