Inanfogoertsboafllligahmtniensg
THESE days the country is receiving massive rainfall. I initially thought only my home-area Ngwazini was being blessed, only to find that the whole country was experiencing heavy downpours. Today’s topic is about lightning. In October of 1998, a bolt of lightning killed an entire 11-men football team from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The opposing team was completely unharmed: However, 30 spectators sustained burn injuries. Lightning flashes occur 50 times per second worldwide, with approximately 20 per cent striking the ground. This results in 24 000 deaths per year and 10 times as many injuries. Any outdoor activity is vulnerable to lightning strikes, and football stadiums or any locations where football is played outdoors, no matter what the size, share this vulnerability. As a result, it is essential that all venues have a predetermined lightning plan.
No outdoor environment is safe from a lightning strike. The only known safe environment in a lightning strike is a fully enclosed structure such as a car, bus or concrete building. Football stadiums, unless they have been specifically designed or upgraded to protect players and spectators remain vulnerable. The risk of injury is especially high when large, dense crowds are in attendance. It is therefore advisable that all football stadiums and locations consult local engineering experts, where possible, regarding lightning protection of the football stadium.
The 30-30 rule is the simplest, safest and easiest strategy which can be used to prevent injuries due to lightning strikes. It states that there is a danger of someone being struck by lightning when the interval between seeing a lightning flash and hearing the subsequent thunder is less than 30 seconds (‘see-to-sound time’). In this situation, the lightning is within a 10-kilometer distance. The second 30 in the 3030 lightning prevention rule states that resumption of outdoor activities should not resume until 30 minutes have elapsed after the last lightning flash or thunder. Once it has been determined that lightning is a threat to the occupants of a football stadium, the predetermined lightning plan (PLP) must be put into operation immediately. The most important aspect of any PLP is communication, specifically via the stadium public-address system, informing the crowd of the risk of lightning, the postponement of the match, if relevant, advising that anybody leaving the stadium environment to seek appropriate shelter will be allowed back into the stadium using their same tickets, requesting the crowd to undertake any movements (or evacuation) in an orderly manner and to follow the instructions of stadium stewards with brightly coloured clothing, who will guide them to places of safety or open exits. All persons should be removed from the field of play until it is safe for their return.
A direct strike is not common (five per cent of cases). When this occurs it most commonly affects the head and face. As a result, eye and ear injuries (e.g. rupture of the tympanic membrane) are common in lightning strike victims. Blunt injuries are also relatively common as victims can be thrown several metres from the strike point. The main concern, however, is cardiac aarrest. Lastly, let me continue to encourage sports loving people to continue vaccinating, it’s the right thing to do.
Finally let me wish a better prepared team the best of luck Sunday on Derby day (Mbabane Highlanders FC playing against Mbabane Swallows FC) .... I’m biased though as I pray for an injury free game, I hope you know why Hahaha. Till next week God bless you all.