Coconut Creek Little League
	Safety Manual 2005 Play Hard - Play Safe League ID Number: 309-10-25
Weather

South Florida is renowned for its hot, humid weather, accompanied by sporadic late afternoon showers. CCLL urges all coaches to USE COMMON SENSE.  If playing conditions become unsafe, stop your practice.  No practice is worth endangering the children.

Lightning

On average, 200 people are struck and killed by lightning in the USA every year.  Lightning can strike as far as 10 to 15 miles away from a storm. The average lightning strike is five to six miles long, and achieves current levels of 400 kA, temperatures of 15,000^oC, and voltages in the hundreds of millions.  Ground-based items such as fences, trees, blades of grass, and people emit varying degrees of induced electric activity which can act as a lightning rod.

Many people rely on the "Flash/Bang" technique (the sound of thunder will take five seconds to travel one mile) to measure their distance from lightning.  You must be aware that, on average, thunder can only be heard over a distance of only three to four miles.  By the time you hear thunder, you are already well within the reach of a lightning strike.

For this reason, the City of Coconut Creek has purchased and installed ThorGuard Lightning Prediction Systems at all City Parks.  The following lightning policy has been implemented, and is enforced, by the City of Coconut Creek.

When a ground strike of lightning has occurred within seven miles of the park, the ThorGuard Lightning Prediction System will generate one (1) 15 second horn blast.  When you hear this horn blast, you must:

·    suspend all games and practices immediately

·    stay away from metal including fencing and bleachers

·    get EVERYBODY to clear the outdoor facility and walk (not run) to their vehicle

·    ensure everybody remains in their vehicle until the ThorGuard Lightning Prediction System generates the “All Clear” signal, which is three (3) short horn blasts.

·    If park patrons refuse to leave the facilities, they do so at their own risk.

** T-Ball & Coach Pitch Instructional Divisions: wait in your cars for 20 minutes after the warning horn has sounded. If the all clear has not sounded after 20 minutes, the coaches will call the game and advise the players. (Coaches may agree to continue this game at either teams next practice)
         
** Upper Divisions: If the all-clear warning signal has not been heard in a reasonable amount of time, it is the UMPIRES decision if and when the game play will be suspended. It is also up to the umpires to decided on the reasonable amount of time that the teams shall wait before the game is suspended.

·    If park patrons return to the facilities prior to the “All Clear” signal, they do so at their own risk.

·    Allow activities to resume once the All Clear Signal sounds.

·    The ThorGuard Lightning Prediction System will be operable from 7:00 am - 10:00 pm at Gerber, Hosford, Lakeside, Lyons Creek, and Sabal Pines Parks.

·    If the park is closed for any reason,  the Thor Guard System will be turned off, so as not to disturb the park neighbors.

Hot Weather

·    The American Academy of Dermatology estimates that children receive 80% of their lifetime sun exposure by the time they are 18 years old!  Sun screen, preferably with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15, should therefore always be used to protect from damaging ultra-violet light.

·    Encourage your players to drink water before going on, and after coming off, the field.

·    During day games, try to use at least two catchers.

·    If a player looks distressed while standing in the sun, remove that player from the field and get them in the shade immediately.

·    If a player should collapse as a result of heat exhaustion, call 9-1-1 immediately.  Get the player to drink water, and cool them down until the emergency medical team arrives.

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