State officials warn of dangers regarding lightning

Posted on June 28, 2015

By Joe Ragusa

BLOOMINGTON – It’s lightning safety awareness week.

Illinois Emergency Management Agency spokesperson Patti Thompson says if you can hear thunder, seek safety.

“If you’re close enough to lightning to be able to hear the thunder, you’re close enough to be struck by it,” Thompson said. “That means it’s really time for you to go inside or into a hard-top vehicle.”

26 people died in the U.S. last year from lightning strikes, up from 23 in 2013. Thompson said providing CPR to the victim of a lightning strike immediately can possibly save their life.

Joe Ragusa can be reached at [email protected].

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