In November, we reported in our
eSplash newsletter that
Aquatics International was questioning the policy of closing indoor pools during an electrical storm. Turns out that article has touched off a,
err, firestorm with the
National Lightning Safety Institute (NLSI) who have sent us a letter rebutting AI's claims. With all the experts in a tumult, what's a pool director to do?
Read the Aquatic International article
here then the NLSI retort below before making up your own mind.
Lightning and Indoor Pools: A
Reply to Aquatics Resources eSplash Newsletter 17 Nov 2008*
By Richard Kithil, President & CEO, NLSI
Background: In May 2003, NLSI co-authored Lightning and Aquatics Safety: A Cautionary Perspective for Indoor Pools.
Before and since that time, many national aquatics groups have followed
our recommendations. We suggest, in brief, that safety is the
prevailing directive and that pool activities should be suspended at
the first signs of thunder or lightning. A contrary opinion has
appeared in Aquatics Resources eSplash newsletter dated 17 Nov. 2008. The purpose of our reply is to discuss
the topic with regard to comments made by the authors of the above
newsletter article.
It is correct that national statistics omit reports of deaths from lightning to people in indoor pools.
That’s good news. However, there are many reports of lightning deaths in bathtubs as well as
reports of injuries to people indoors in direct and indirect contact with water (kitchen sink, laundry room,
bathroom, etc.). The agencies that cause these incidents can be traced to energized circuits. This means
copper water pipes, electrical service lines, and other conductors that carry some component of lightning’s energy.
It seems reasonable to NLSI that the potential for lightning incidents to people in indoor pools does exist.
The eSpalsh [sic] article contains several errors that should be discussed. The National Electrical Code (NEC)
does NOT refer in any way to pool closures or any type of enforcement or any legal consequences. The presence
of a lightning protection system does not bring with it any certainty of immunity from death, injury, fire, or other
consequences. People in contact with, or adjacent to, conductive circuits may become lightning victims regardless of
grounding, bonding, shielding, surge protection, air terminals, etc. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
does not refer to pools specifically. However, it does contain the warning: “avoid using the shower or plumbing
facilities and contact with electrical appliances during thunderstorms.”
The bottom line: liability issues. There are nationally published recommendations for evacuating pools during
thunderstorms. Those guidelines are based upon very conservative "safety first" principles. These admonitions do not
have the force of law. However, they address a well-known duty-to-warn concept. Failure to provide safe activities
and failure to comply with recognized national safety measures may bring with it liability issues. The choice is yours.
*Aquatic Resources Network (eSplash) Editor's Note: Dear reader. As you may realize, the article referenced by the NLSI was published by Aquatics International magazine and not by us. We merely linked readers to their online article. So, as much as we appreciate being at the middle of the storm, we can't take credit for the controversy! We've pointed this out to the NLSI, but so far, the website retort remains as is.
CDC is not aware of any of these germs being transmitted to swimmers from a blood spill in a pool.
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