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MAY 2012  PLAY IT SAFE


Stay alert to lightning danger Know what to do before the sky lights up


BY GUY DALE coordinator of safety & loss control


D


id you know lighting can strike even if it’s not raining? The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


(NOAA) says lightning strikes kill 55 to 60 people every year. More than 400 people are hit by a bolt each year.


As warm weather lures us all outdoors and on the water, make sure you know how to protect yourself and your family, should you get caught in a storm. If you prepare before an outdoor event and know how to protect yourself, you can keep your family safe from lightning. Follow these tips from NOAA:


 Plan ahead. Just as you have an emergency plan for fires and weather events like [tornadoes/hurricanes], form an action plan for lightning. Choose a safe shelter, and time how long it takes to get there.


 Check the weather. A simple forecast can tell you whether you should delay outdoor activities to avoid a dangerous situation.


  Look to the sky. Dark skies, whipping


winds, and lightning flashes are all signs that you should seek shelter.


Seek shelter. As soon as you hear a


rumble of thunder, head for a safe place—an enclosed structure, one with plumbing and wiring is best, or a car. Open-air shelters, sheds, and covered porches are often not safe places. Avoid tall trees that stand alone, towers, and poles, as well as metal fences and other conductors of electricity. And keep out of open areas, so that you’re not the tallest object in a field.


Southeast Oklahoma offers several recycling locations for your convenience.


 Choctaw County


A-Z Recycling Hugo, OK


580-326-4277 Accepts: Metal only


 Wait it out. Leaving safe shelter too quickly makes you vulnerable to lightning strikes. Wait at least 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder before you head back outdoors.


 Avoid corded phones and appliances. If you’re indoors when a storm hits, do not use corded phones or appliances. Lightning can travel through your home’s wiring. Also, water is a great conductor of electricity, so don’t take a bath or shower.


If someone near you has been struck by lightning, call 911 immediately. A certified person should begin CPR right away if necessary—the victim will not have an electric charge and is safe to touch.


For more information on how to stay safe in a lightning storm, visit www.lightningsafety. noaa.gov.


Schedule a safety class or free CPR course for your business, classroom or community group! Guy Dale and Brad Kendrick offer CPR training to the community at no charge. Please contact Guy Dale to schedule a free presentation today. To reach him, please call 800-780-6486, ext. 227. For more safety tips, please visit www.choctawelectric.coop.


Choctaw Electric Cooperative Hugo, OK


800-780-6486


Accepts: Broken or used compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs).


 Pushmataha County- Southern Disposal Located 2.5 miles south of Antlers 580-298-3729


Accepts: All types of metal, paper, cardboard, batteries and tires. (There is a charge for tires) No glass or plastic recycling, but they will dispose of it for you.


McCurtain County


OK Wood Fiber Located next to the Chamber of Commerce in Idabel 580-286-5035


Accepts: Cardboard and paper.


McCurtain County OSU Extension Located in the Courthouse in Idabel Accepts: Broken or used CFL bulbs.


SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA recycling centers


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CEC


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