Protecting "People, Property and Places" is LPI's Focus of this Year's National Lightning Safety Awareness Week, June 24-30

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Jun 21, 2018, 02:17 ET

MARYVILLE, Mo., June 21, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More people are killed and injured by lightning during the summer months than any other time of year. Many lightning deaths and injuries in the U.S. happen when people simply opt for convenience instead of disrupting outdoor plans. Ignoring lightning's potential dangers, is a risk not worth taking!

Protecting “People, Property and Places” is LPI's Focus of this Year’s National Lightning Safety Awareness Week, June 24-30

Recognizing lightning's underrated dangers, the National Weather Service (NWS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), launched the National Lightning Safety Awareness Week campaign in 2001. Since the beginning of the campaign, lightning deaths in the U.S. have dramatically dropped--with an all-time record low of 16 deaths reported just last year. Unfortunately, property and structural losses due to lightning continue to rise with reports of lightning fires occurring daily in states across the U.S.

"National Lightning Safety Awareness Week is a good time to learn more about the dangers of lightning. We want people to understand these dangers so they make more informed decisions to protect themselves, their family, and their property," said John Jensenius, National Weather Service lightning safety specialist.

"As the media continues to share daily reports of devastating home and building fires sparked by lightning—in nearly every part of the country—we are reminding property owners, builders, insurance providers and fire safety professionals that these losses can be prevented when lightning protection systems are installed for structures," shared Bud Van Sickle, executive director for the Lightning Protection Institute (LPI).

In support of this year's Lightning Safety Awareness Week, June 24-30, LPI is stressing the importance of protecting people, property and places. Together, with partners at the National Lightning Safety Council (NLSC), LPI is promoting awareness and sharing safety information throughout the week on seven important topics:

Sunday: An Introduction to Lightning and Lightning Safety
Monday: The Science of Lightning and Thunder
Tuesday: Lightning Safety Outdoors
Wednesday: Lightning Safety Indoors
Thursday: Lightning Safety and Sports Activities
Friday: Medical Effects on Lightning Victims
Saturday: Protecting Your Home from Lightning

LPI and NLSC invite educators and public officials to help build lightning safe communities! Learn about lightning safety and risk reduction at lightningsafetycouncil.org and find out about the benefits of safety standard compliant lightning protection systems at lightning.org.

Founded in 1955, the Lightning Protection Institute is a not-for-profit, nationwide group that supports lightning safety awareness and education and is a leading resource for lightning protection and safety standard-compliant system requirements.

SOURCE Lightning Protection Institute