WTOC, Savannah, Georgia, news, weather and sports | Coaches, trainers take precautions against severe weather
Member Center:
By Justin Burrows - email
SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) - It was practice as normal for many of the area high schools as they prepare for their upcoming season.
But a day after a 14-year-old football player was struck by lightning in Bellville, Georgia (see Lightning strikes football player), many of these coaches and players had more than just the next play or snap count on their minds.
"Something like that is just tragic, but all we can do is come out here and do the best job we can for these kids and their safety and welfare," said Benedictine head coach Mark Stroud.
"It affects all of us in a certain aspect because the young man was a football player, so they are going to relate to that," said Johnson head coach Jamie Baldwin.
Both coaches we spoke with said that their players' safety is most important and that they rely on their trainers to tell them when it may be too dangerous to practice outside.
"We were going to come out here in the rain yesterday, but the trainer came and told me, coach we've got lightning in the area, so we need to practice inside. I'm the head coach but they're the professional in that area, so I'm going to listen to what they tell me," said Baldwin.
"If it is 10 miles or closer we will pull the kids off the field and we have to have a 30 minute timer from when we see the last lightning strike and 30 minutes has to go by without another lightning strike," said Johnson head trainer Wendy Darwin.
All trainers and coaches are outfitted with a lightning meter that tells them the distance of lightning strikes.
"All coaches and athletes will use the guidelines set forth by the GHSA and SCCPSS in the event of lightning," said Peggy Johnson, director of athletics for the Savannah-Chatham County school district in a statement to WTOC. "The SCCPSS Athletic Department has decided that when lightning is detected in the range of 8-20 miles, or the 'flash to bang' count approaches 30, all student-athletes and personnel should immediately seek shelter."
But as was the case Wednesday, lightning only needs to strike once to be dangerous.
"Lightning strikes can come out of nowhere. I mean, it can sneak up on you and the first strike can be right there at you," said Benedictine head trainer Brian Tuten.
And in a game of inches, these teams have learned that you can never be too cautious to keep your distance.
©2009 WTOC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
