Stay away from lightning
It may sound an unnecessary caution but is it? Two Springboks were killed by lightning. In 1991 referee Albert Adams called of a Test match between the USA and France three minutes into the second half when lightning struck the electronic scoreboard at the ground in Colorado Springs where lightning is a frequent danger. In 1998 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo lightning struck players during a soccer match, killing all 11 of the visiting team and leaving the home team unscathed.
The Springboks killed by lightning were both in the 1903 team, the first to win a series. Charlie Jones, a great all-round sportsman and a robust tenor, was killed in 1908 while playing golf in Johannesburg. John Botha was killed on his farm Vogelstruisfontein in the Standerton District in 1920. (They are both worth stories on their own.)
SA Rugby’s national rugby safety programme, BokSmart, has developed safety guidelines for clubs, schools and provincial unions to use in the event of play being threatened by lightning.
The guidelines, were developed using two local lightning experts, Prof. Ian Jandrell and Dr Ryan Blumenthal from the Witwatersrand and Pretoria Universities respectively, and are in line with World Rugby’s procedures.
They cover general lightning safety tips applicable to all levels of rugby, additional procedures applicable to professional rugby matches, basic stadium safety guidelines and procedures to follow should someone be struck by lightning.
The main objectives of these guidelines are to assist in hopefully preventing the potential risks associated with lightning strikes, especially in parts of the country that experience lightning strikes on a regular basis, and to ensure that individuals are treated properly in the event of being struck by lightning.
SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux said: “Safety is our top priority in every aspect of the game of rugby. This applies to club, school and professional rugby.
“Through these lightning safety guidelines, we hope to prevent situations in which players or spectators are placed at unnecessary risk of being struck by lightning at all levels of the game, and to make sure that the correct procedures are followed in the event of a person being struck by lightning. Fortunately, one can anticipate lightning strikes in certain instances, especially if a storm breaks in the distance, which allows adequate time to follow the guidelines to avoid danger.
“We encourage all clubs, schools and professional teams to adhere to these guidelines at all times, even if it requires that an important match be delayed or postponed, as safety always comes first,” Roux concluded.
The lightning safety guidelines advise that individuals seek shelter in a fully enclosed substantial building, preferably a brick building with cement floors, when a thunderstorm approaches.
Clubs, schools and provincial rugby unions should also have someone who acts as a ‘lightning monitor’, and who should ideally not be the coach, or referee, as they are usually preoccupied with other matters and cannot adequately monitor conditions. The risk of lightning strikes can be determined by an appropriate lightning detection system or by calculating the time between a lightning strike and the associated thunder clap. Should the latter be 20 seconds or less, all outdoor activity should be suspended.
In the case of professional rugby matches, it is advised that stadiums are fitted with either fixed lightning detection systems or that they should have a portable lightning detection device on hand that meets the current industry standards at the time. Professional clubs and provinces should also have an automated external defibrillator (AED) available to treat potential lightning strike patients. This portable electronic device allows the heart to re-establish an effective rhythm in the case of an individual having been struck by lightning.
From SARU
