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Notes
- Abstract:
- Florida is known as one of the states, most prevalent in thunderstorms and subsequent injuries and fatalities. Institutions such as high schools, colleges, or local youth centers should have policies on lightning safety in order to protect their athletes, staff, and spectators.4 Usually the individuals who dictate whether a practice or game should be suspended include the certified athletic trainer, coach or athletic director. Over a thirty-five-year period a total of 1,522 deaths or injuries occurred in Florida alone. As a result of a lightning strike an individual can sustain cardiac arrest, respiratory arrest, severe bums, fractures, or shock. Therefore, it is imperative these personnel and the institutions be well educated on lightning safety. Paucity exists in the research pertaining to this area of study to determine if these individuals have the required knowledge to make these decisions in relation to lightning safety for the parties, they are responsible for. The purpose of the current study was to determine if coaches, athletic directors, and certified athletic trainers were sufficiently knowledgeable in the area of lightning safety and could protect their staff, players, and fans. Study was focused on staff members working for high schools’ athletics. Data was collected in the areas of lightning safety procedures and basic lightning knowledge using a survey method. The survey contained a combination of multiple choice, true or false, and open-ended questions. Sufficient knowledge was determined by a passing rate of 85% on a 100-point scale in the true and false section of the survey. Several research studies have been conducted to evaluate the nature of lightning, colleges' presence of policies, components a lightning policy should contain, injuries sustained as a result of a strike, and the statistics of lightning related injuries and deaths. Knowledge on lightning safety and lightning behavior has yet to be evaluated amongst officials who are in charge of suspending athletic activity. Athletics that are at risk for lightning strikes include any outdoor sports such as football, swimming, soccer, baseball, lacrosse, and track and field as well as those sports who train outside during their offseason. At times these athletes’ lives are placed at risk because of absence of a lightning safety policy, ignorance by coaches, athletic directors, or certified athletic trainers, or headstrong coaches who refuse to accept the dangers of lightning strikes. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of lightning safety policies at institutions where athletics are conducted. This study evaluated the amount of knowledge coaches, athletic directors, and certified athletic trainers have on lightning. The primary question studied was if these officials had the ability to make those decisions that could affect the lives of several people. Results could advocate for implementation of lightning safety training for their coaches, athletic directors, and certified athletic trainers. Also, it can aid in raising awareness of the severity of thunderstorms, and the ill effects if people come into contact with a lightning strike. Lastly, it could decrease the risk of high school athletes, fans, and staff being struck by lightning.
- Thesis:
- Thesis (M.S.)--Barry University, 2010.
- Bibliography:
- Includes bibliographic references (leaves vi-viii).
Record Information
- Source Institution:
- Barry University
- Holding Location:
- Barry University Archives and Special Collections
- Rights Management:
- Copyright Dyani L. Herrera. Permission granted to Barry University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
- Resource Identifier:
- GV344 .H47 2010_HerreraDyaniL ( BU-Local )
- Classification:
- GV344 .H47 2010 ( lcc )
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