Nearly two weeks ago, University of West Florida student Erin Ellickson was severely injured when lightning struck her and her parents as they were walking near Pace hall.

Ellickson, 19, was left unconscious in serious condition after the incident on Aug. 21.

“She is still in an unconscious state, but wakes up occasionally and is recovering slowly,” said Eric Ellickson, Erin’s brother. “She is expected to return to Atlanta on Monday to begin therapy.”

With all of the recent talk about the weather in the area, some may be wondering how often lightning strikes people, and what they can do to protect themselves when a thunderstorm approaches.

With more bad weather expected during the upcoming weeks, some safety awareness techniques may be helpful.

Although weather experts say that the chances of being struck by lightning are only 1 in 600,000, there are many other ways that lightning can affect students' lives.

Ron Hambrick, director of environmental health and safety at UWF, said the Internet and radio are both excellent sources for keeping of information.

According to the Florida Department of Emergency Management, Florida is known as the lightning capital of the United States. Lightning strikes occur here more than anywhere else in the country.

The summer months, particularly July, are especially prone to thunderstorms and lightning strikes.

According to the National Weather Service, if lightning is seen or thunder is heard, even in the distance, people who are outdoors are in danger and should seek shelter in a car or building immediately.

County records indicate that during the last 45 years, there have been 12 lightning-related fatalities in Escambia County.

The Florida Department of Emergency Management said that one of the best ways to determine whether it's safe to go back outside is the “30-30 rule."

The “30-30 rule” begins with counting 30 seconds between seeing lightning and hearing thunder. If there are less than 30 seconds, then the storm is close enough to do harm.

Also, it is important to wait 30 minutes after hearing thunder before continuing any outdoor activities.

“Nearly 50,000 people are struck by lightning in the United States each year with many of those occurring in the state of Florida,” said Wil Hugli, a UWF lecturer with a doctorate in meteorology. “To protect you, I would suggest staying off the water, away from trees, and off the phone if at all possible during a storm.”

According to the National Weather Service, most victims survive lightning strikes if given proper medical attention.

The first action to take when someone has been struck by lightning is to call 911 and provide information about the victim.

Then survey the situation and deem it safe. Finally check vital signs of the victim and perform emergency care until Emergency Medical Services arrives.

For more information on weather safety tips, visit the UWF Environmental health and safety Web site at: http://www.edu/ENVHS/.

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