lightning and pools.. arrrrrrgggh!

RE: lightning and pools.. arrrrrrgggh!

Allen Stark — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 03:31:12 GMT

The pool for Nationals in Puerto Rico was NOT closed for lightning(and the pool is only covered,not indoor.)

RE: lightning and pools.. arrrrrrgggh!

Former Member — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 08:30:31 GMT

News Flash: The NFL said yesterday that they are suggesting players wear knee, hip and other pads to "protect themselves from injury". Helmets and shoulder pads are mandatory. They are going to "try" this out for preseason games and summer practice... I wonder if they will have lightning rods on those helmets.. They have gotten that far in 2010... they are just figuring out that they can get hurt hitting each other.. Maybe we should try introducing full contact swimming. Or cage swimming. Get some blood in the pool and we could be the next million-dollar franchise sport!

RE: lightning and pools.. arrrrrrgggh!

Former Member — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 08:28:39 GMT

I was totally referring to the catalyst that would probably be necessary to start the social change out of its current state of fear mongering and living according to that fear. Oh, sorry. My mistake. A quite telegraphic post there, tho.

RE: lightning and pools.. arrrrrrgggh!

swimflyfast — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 07:37:58 GMT

RE: lightning and pools.. arrrrrrgggh!

swimflyfast — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:34:34 GMT

Fantastic race Charlie. I'm going to replay it again.:applaud: Patience.... Number one thing in the 200fly.. The first 50 is better then drugs.. then reality sets in. Now I just use the lightning as PSYCH music... AND I have never heard of anyone getting hit by lightning in a pool.. Golfing seems to get all the attention

RE: lightning and pools.. arrrrrrgggh!

bzaks1424 — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 10:35:38 GMT

Why would there be more legal ramifications for me choosing to swim during thunder than there would be for me choosing to swim by myself with no guard? I was totally referring to the catalyst that would probably be necessary to start the social change out of its current state of fear mongering and living according to that fear.

RE: lightning and pools.. arrrrrrgggh!

Former Member — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 10:17:52 GMT

If only there weren't legal ramifications...... Why would there be more legal ramifications for me choosing to swim during thunder than there would be for me choosing to swim by myself with no guard? They have a clear "at your own risk" policy that I've signed and which is also posted on the deck in foot-tall block lettering. If they want to cover themselves, they can have someone come tell me it's thundering. Then it's my choice. And since sending me back to work means I'm walking thru the parking lot, where I'm more likely to get struck by lightning, I don't see any reduction in risk for them at all.

RE: lightning and pools.. arrrrrrgggh!

jim thornton — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 03:47:01 GMT

Follow the link at this blog to see the video. www.warrentonmasters.org/.../ Everyone was upset that they pulled us out of the pool. charlie I love how MacDonald's sponsored the meet!

RE: lightning and pools.. arrrrrrgggh!

orca1946 — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 07:58:44 GMT

Yeah, in Elgin, Il at masters practice they kick us out for 30 mins, so we all go hame & eat ! ? ! :bolt:

RE: lightning and pools.. arrrrrrgggh!

bzaks1424 — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 10:05:46 GMT

Will someone please bring sanity back to our fearful, cowering culture?! If only there weren't legal ramifications......

RE: lightning and pools.. arrrrrrgggh!

swimflyfast — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 09:50:33 GMT

Has anyone ever heard of anyone getting hit by lightning in a swimming pool, indoors or out? in 1989 I was swimming the 200 fly and finished 120 yards of the race before the heat was pulled out of the water so that we could stand up in the wet grass..under a tent with medal posts.. Lucky for me I would have lost the race if it wasn't called as I felt like a piano was on my back. When we re-swam the race the piano fell on the other swimmers. Follow the link at this blog to see the video. www.warrentonmasters.org/.../ Everyone was upset that they pulled us out of the pool. charlie

RE: lightning and pools.. arrrrrrgggh!

gigi — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 09:29:24 GMT

Sorry to revive the zombie thread, but I just gotta. We've been having lots of afternoon storms -- GA weather now is like FL weather was 20 yrs ago -- and they close the indoor pool when there's thunder! This is idiotic. Especially considering that they have no guards and a "swim at your own risk" policy. There are plenty of times when I'm in there by myself for long periods. I could choke or have a heart attack in the water, or slip and crack my head on the deck, and I could be dead for half an hour before anyone noticed. That would be my tough luck b/c I'm at my own risk. But when it thunders, they gotta stop my workout. And since I swim in the middle of a split work shift, this completely scratches my workout for the day. I can't believe how stupid this is. As far as I know, there has never been a lightning-related injury in an indoor pool ever. I'm more likely to get hit by lightning when I go back to my truck, after being ejected from the pool, than I am if I were to keep swimming. Will someone please bring sanity back to our fearful, cowering culture?! Next time it happens, I'm tempted to just keep swimming. Can't hear them thru my earplugs, y'know. I make it my practice to avoid getting angry and upset about things like this. I know I carry on in my blog about things, but that's mostly for comic effect. In reality, I'm a pretty equanimous individual. But this particular topic gets me chew-the-doors-off-the-hinges crazy! I'm printing out your link and bringing it to the Y this week. This has got to stop! Either that or I'm going to have to spend a lot more time meditating!

RE: lightning and pools.. arrrrrrgggh!

srcoyote — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 09:15:18 GMT

If i remember my college physics,the charge in an enclosed conductor is always ZERO. Thats why a car is safe in a thunder storm(not because it has rubber tires.) Most indoor pools are going to have metal surrounding them in the walls making them essentially inside an enclosed conductor and therefore safe. This is why linemen who have to work on lines while perched atop them in very remote wilderness areas wear metal mesh body suits. Once they charge the suit through contact with the line, they are safe to touch anything they want. So I'm proposing a new form of tech suit! A metal mesh body suit! You may drown, but you won't be electrocuted!:D

RE: lightning and pools.. arrrrrrgggh!

Former Member — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 07:28:35 GMT

Fantastic race Charlie. I'm going to replay it again.:applaud:

RE: lightning and pools.. arrrrrrgggh!

Former Member — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 08:56:44 GMT

RE: lightning and pools.. arrrrrrgggh!

Former Member — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 05:58:33 GMT

I spoke with my brother-in-law. He is an Electrical Engineer. He said that if the el;ectricity has no where to be groounded, the building isn't safe. It isn't like most building becaseu fo the structure of the building. If it is grounded, it is safe. Most pools aren't grounded. Also, the main reason to get out is becasue of possible damage to the structure of the pool from storm damage such as rain, wind, or lighting hitting trees or parts o f the buildign , and finally fire. so the buildign id safe only if nothing happenings.

RE: lightning and pools.. arrrrrrgggh!

Former Member — Mon, 13 Jun 2005 07:44:58 GMT

Originally posted by Allen Stark If the pool is indoors and the building has a metal frame,it's SAFE!!! Not just probably safe,but completely safe.(unless someone runs a power line from the outside into the pool.) I work in a construction project office that is tasked with the design and construction of various building projects. I took this problem to the certified architect, electrical and civil engineers here at my office. Buildings, including metal frame ones, must have a lightning arrestor system (lightning rods) and necessary grounding to protect the building from lightening strikes. (Given the capricious nature of lightning, arrestor systems are not as simple as one would think.) Unless you can be absolutely sure the building properly incorporates such a system, it is not advisable to be in a pool within the building during such a storm. Also, lightning can travel through underground piping and wiring from other sources, such as adjacent buildings. It just makes common sense to get out, move out of the area and wait for the storm to pass. I've been in the pool where I swim when fierce storm came up one night and the pool was cleared out. Good thing. We saw a bright flash, heard a snap (electrical discharge), then sizzle and then a hugh boom. Lightning had struck very closely to the building enclosing the pool. No one was in it at the time. An ounce of prevention is a pound of cure.

RE: lightning and pools.. arrrrrrgggh!

Former Member — Mon, 13 Jun 2005 07:15:30 GMT

I love storms, too. Last week, I hauled my butt outta bed at 4.45AM to go to practice, only to have a storm blow in off the sea 500 yards into my warm-up. GRRRR... :mad: I just used the time to cross-train at the gym. peace...

RE: lightning and pools.. arrrrrrgggh!

Former Member — Sat, 11 Jun 2005 16:51:40 GMT

Few indoor pools are grounded. It used to be thought that indoor pools didn't conduct eletridity from lithening. then there wsa a study done inthe late 1980's that found that almost all lightening related deaths occurred when people wewre swimming indoors during lightening storms. The study was done by the American Red Cross and the NIH. It is extremely dangerous to swim during a lightening storm. Mst gymnasiums & rec centers are natural conductors. I think hta if the pool is indoors & the building is metal that's the most unsafe. the eletricity has no where to go but through hte building exce[pt in to the water. A structure like a Bultler buildin isn't a car. I thnk the problem with a building is that the electricty tries to find a way to flow out of the building. I think it remains like a frayed wire.

RE: lightning and pools.. arrrrrrgggh!

Former Member — Fri, 10 Jun 2005 15:35:30 GMT

Originally posted by Allen Stark If i remember my college physics,the charge in an enclosed conductor is always ZERO. Thats why a car is safe in a thunder storm(not because it has rubber tires.) Most indoor pools are going to have metal surrounding them in the walls making them essentially inside an enclosed conductor and therefore safe. Allen! That could be the next trend in building pools.... making sure they are inside an enclosed conductor and therefore 'safer' to be in during a thunderstorm. Don't know how you would get water into and out of the pool but I'm sure someone could figure that out. Okay all you engineers when you start to build these kinda pools remember I gave you the idea and want a cut of the profits.

RE: lightning and pools.. arrrrrrgggh!

Former Member — Fri, 10 Jun 2005 15:04:45 GMT

Think in terms of relative risk here...I am so much more likely to be involved in a fatal car accident every single time I drive somewhere than I am to be injured while swimming in an indoor pool during a thunderstorm. Perhaps we should pass laws against all motorized vehicles for our own safety. The only reason there are policies forcing us out of indoor pools during thunderstorms is the fear of litigation (in other words, not because there is a proven substantial risk).

RE: lightning and pools.. arrrrrrgggh!

Former Member — Fri, 10 Jun 2005 14:36:37 GMT

The problem is if you were swimming in an indoor pool and got fried they aren't worried about you suing (your a bit too crispy) they are worried about your family suing. Only sort of kidding people sue for the dumbest things, if I was in charge of an indoor pool you'd all be booted and I'd stay and swim. :) People just have to cover their butts.

RE: lightning and pools.. arrrrrrgggh!

Former Member — Fri, 10 Jun 2005 13:50:10 GMT

From a paper by an MD who apparently specializes in this sort of thing (paper link below). The implication is that there IS a good reason to get out of the pool. "When lightning hits the ground nearby, it is 'grounded ' and I am safe. " Totally and absolutely FALSE. Despite the fact that we call the earth a "ground," it is very difficult to pump electricity into the ground. Most "earth" is a very good insulator. When lightning hits the ground, it spreads out along the surface and first few inches of the ground in increasing circles of energy called "ground current." If it contacts a fence or a water pipe or wire entering a house it can be transmitted for quite a distance and cause injury to persons near these paths. People, being bags of electrolytes, are better transmitters of electrical current than most ground is, and many are injured by ground current effect each year as the lightning energy surges up one leg that is closer to the strike and down the one further away. "My mother always told me to stay off the telephone (out of the bath tub, away from windows, unplug the appliances, etc.) during a thunderstorm. " Good advice, if not always practical. Again, the ground current effect of energy transmitted into the structure along wires or pipes may find the person a better conduit to ground.(3,4) Many injuries occur every year to telephone users inside the home. One of the biggest new areas of consumer fraud has to do with claims of loss of "valuable" databases on computers damaged by lightning.(5) Paper at: www.uic.edu/.../ltnfacts.htm -LBJ

RE: lightning and pools.. arrrrrrgggh!

Former Member — Fri, 10 Jun 2005 13:09:33 GMT

Originally posted by jswim Exactly.. you hit the nail on the head Rob! It's all about fear of getting sued. Understandably of course, though sometimes it'd be nice if we could just take our own risks if we so choose to. I quite agree if we're just talking about adults. What about kids? I can't think of a one that wouldn't elect to stay in the pool if given the choice. Mine are usually quite peeved when they're made to get out. Maybe they figure a blanket policy is better (easier :confused: ) than a differentiated one.

RE: lightning and pools.. arrrrrrgggh!

aquageek — Fri, 10 Jun 2005 10:58:26 GMT

Originally posted by SwiminONandON The problem is if you were swimming in an indoor pool and got fried they aren't worried about you suing (your a bit too crispy) they are worried about your family suing. Actually, they'd be more happy if your family sued as dead people are worth less than living disabled people.