I recently moved from CT to NC and have noticed one of the differences between the two areas is the amount of thunderstorms. Typically they're in the afternoon so if you tend to swim during that time your workouts are either cancelled or cut short. The safety rules which require you to get out of the pool are true for both indoor and outdoor pools (I've overheard people question the guards why it applies to indoor pools and it got me to thinking). I'm assuming the electricity would conducted through pipes or metal in the building. Does the presence of windows make a difference? Also, the frequency of storms is such that I would think it would have a fairly big impact on the ability of teams to have consistent workouts. I remember coaches who would give people a hard time about getting out for 2 minutes to use the restroom, that seems to pale in comparison to missing huge sections of workouts several days a week due to thunderstorms. The rule seems to be that if there's a lightning strike you must leave the pool and wait 20-30 minutes before re-entering the pool. Where did the 20-30 minute time frame come from? One last hypothetical question, what if during the Olympic 1500m race there's a lightning strike? Do they tell the swimmers to stop and get out?
Former Member
Our 50 meter indoor Y Pool was built about 1996. During the first year or two that the pool was open it was sruck by lightening. The Y had to replace one of the pump motors because of the damage.
This summer I have been on a terrible role of bad luck with storms and have had my workout canceled more times than I can remember. The pool staff even teases me when I show up to swim as they know a storm must be lurking somewhere close by. I always remember the previous strike and get out of the water with a smile for the lifegaurds when ever they blow their whstles.
This past weekend almost the entire Y meet was canceled when a lightening strike took out the power Friday night and all day Saturday. The problem could not be fixed until Sunday. Over 525 kids from all over the place were signed up to swim and probably were very disappointed. I think they swam 2 or 3 events on Friday before the storm, non on Saturday, and a few events on Sunday.
Have a great day
Paul
Originally posted by knelson
I'm sure the dangers are real, but how many people actually get struck by lightning in a swimming pool? I bet the number is very low. Safety advocates could point to this being the result of evacuating the pool when there's lightning in the area, I suppose. Anyway, you hear about golfers getting killed all the time, but I've never heard of anyone getting electrocuted in a pool.
Because life guards are good at getting people out. I have been around an outdorr pool during a meet during some wicked storms, and believe me, I don't want to be near it. Golfers are more on their own, and it is easier for them to ignore the storm and stay out too long. That is why they get struck more.
I remember when I was a kid our Coach got tired of us asking if the lightning was too close and should we get out.
We swam in an outdoor pool in Ft Myers Florida, and lightning was common.
Our Coach grabbed a long metal pool pole and stood on the lifeguard chair and proclaimed " if lightning hits it will hit me first now get swimming"
No more than 5 minutes later lightning hit the the parking lot next to the pool. I have never seen our Coach move so fast yelling for everybody to get out.
I'm sure the dangers are real, but how many people actually get struck by lightning in a swimming pool? I bet the number is very low. Safety advocates could point to this being the result of evacuating the pool when there's lightning in the area, I suppose. Anyway, you hear about golfers getting killed all the time, but I've never heard of anyone getting electrocuted in a pool.
When I was a cop I was standing in a doorway of a store during a thunder storm. The lightning struck the building and the light show around the door was very exciting, sparks were flying and shooting accross the entry and I was very shookup. Later on that same evening I was walking the beat and that was the night I met my wife for the second time. Not only was I almost struck by lightning but was struck by love.
The store on the rigt side of this photo is the doorway I was standing in www.westdalevillage.ca/main.htm
