Improvised lightning safety awareness program

The number of media reported lightning fatalities in Malaysia averaged about a dozen annually in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 1993, an improvised lightning safety awareness program was initiated through the Letters column of the local English news media in order to educate the public on the importance of seeking proper shelter before, during and after thunderstorms. A 10-point Lightning Safety Rule based on actual lightning fatalities was developed and published regularly from 2001 onwards. As more lightning safety messages appeared in the news media, the average number of reported annual fatalities declined towards the end of the decade. The success of the improvised program suggests that lightning hazards can be partially mitigated without a full scale national safety program.