Check Safety Measures and Protocols for Organizers, Golfers, and Caddies During Thunderstorms in Competitions - Thairath English

Check safety measures and protocols for organizers, golfers, and caddies during thunderstorms in competition to ensure everyone's safety and protection.

this event serves as a crucial warning about the risks in open areas like golf courses. Key safety measures for lightning protection for golf courses, players, and users include the following guidelines.

1. Measures for golf courses and event organizers

- Weather alert system: Install electric charge detectors or weather radar covering a 10–15 kilometer radius, along with siren alarms to warn of risks.

- Immediate play suspension: When the alarm sounds or lightning and thunder are observed, organizers or the course must stop play immediately and not allow continuation until the hole is completed.

- Provide shelters: Build roadside shelters or refuge points equipped with grounded lightning rods meeting standards, distributed throughout the course.

- Provide golf carts for transport: Prepare plans to quickly move golfers and caddies from open areas back to the clubhouse.

2. Protocols for golfers and caddies during thunderstorms

- If lightning is seen and thunder heard within 30 seconds or less, stop playing and seek shelter immediately.

- Wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunderclap before returning to the course.

- Avoid conductive equipment: put down golf clubs (especially graphite or steel shafts) and do not open umbrellas with metal frames or tips.

- Do not shelter alone under tall isolated trees on the course.

- Do not stay near water bodies, ponds, or open golf carts without fully covered metal roofs.

- Do not stay on the highest point of the area.

- Crouch down with feet together, head lowered, and hands covering ears.

- Do not lie flat on the ground to minimize contact area with the earth.

3. Basic first aid when encountering a lightning strike victim

- Call emergency number 1669 or medical emergency team immediately.

- Safety of the injured: Lightning strike victims do not retain electrical charge and can be touched and assisted safely right away.

- Perform CPR immediately: if the victim is unconscious, not breathing, or has no heartbeat, perform chest compressions (CPR) and use an AED if available, as most deaths result from sudden cardiac arrest.