Lightning safety, Kishoreganj

About this task

Kishoreganj’s haors are miles of open field with few places to shelter. On market day or before the harvest, sitting with farmers, fishermen and labourers on five rules: at thunder, leave open fields and boats for a solid building; not under trees; caught outside, crouch low on the toes with hands over ears; away from towers and poles. And pointing out the nearest shelters.

Why it matters

Lightning kills many people in Bangladesh every year, most at work in fields or on boats; the government declared it a natural disaster in 2016. Most of these deaths are prevented by taking shelter in time.

What changes after

At least 150 people know the five rules; posters at the market and school; the shelters on the way to the fields known.

Who can join

Anyone; young people working in farming or disaster response are especially useful.

What it costs

Getting ready, step by step

• 2 weeks before

  Find which market, on which day, draws the most farmers, fishermen and labourers.

  Get the market committee's permission; write to the union council.

• 10 days before

  List the solid buildings, schools and shelters on the way to the fields; note any with lightning rods.

  Put the five rules and local shelters on the poster and leaflet; send to print.

• The day before

  Check the forecast; if storms are likely, move the date.

  The four rehearse the five rules aloud and show each other the crouch.

• Market day

  Talk in small groups, show the crouch position.

  Put posters up at the market and school; count leaflets handed out.

• The week after

  Send a picture of the five rules to mosque, school and farmer WhatsApp groups.

  Check the posters are still up.

Who does what

• Lead and speaker (1): Liaises with the market committee and union; gives the five rules on the mike. — ____________
• Small-group talkers (2): Sit with people at stalls and the boat landing, explain, show the crouch. — ____________
• Posters and count (1): Puts up posters, counts leaflets, takes photos. — ____________

The day, hour by hour

• 07:30Look at the sky; with cloud or thunder, no outdoor event today.
• 08:00Banner and table at the market; tell the committee.
• 08:30Five rules on the mike, then once an hour.
• 09:00Small-group talks at stalls and the boat landing; show the crouch.
• 11:00Posters up at the market; point out the nearest shelters.
• 12:00Posters at the school, five minutes with students.
• 13:00Count leaflets, pick photos, upload to the task page.

What can go wrong, and what to do

• Thunder starts in the middle of the event. → Stop at once and send everyone into solid buildings; stay inside at least 30 minutes after the last thunder.
• Someone is struck by lightning. → The person is safe to touch; call 999 at once, a trained person gives CPR if not breathing, then hospital.
• Wrong beliefs: trees are safe, or mobile phones attract lightning. → Gently give the right answer: not under trees; the safe place is a solid building or closed vehicle.

Useful numbers

• 1090Disaster early warning (recorded, free)
• 999National emergency: police, fire, ambulance (free)

Team notes