I missed hearing about Sam Santilli last week when he was hit by lightning in Treasure Island. We don’t typically get news from that area in my paper, but I was saddened to learn today that Sam, who was a 16 year old Hillsborough High student, has died from his injuries. Sam was at the beach with his mom last Friday when he was struck.

That’s a somber reminder for us all. If you see lightning, get inside. Stay away from the water, the pool, high objects, don’t hide under a tree - just go INSIDE. Unfortunately, it sounds as if this all happened to quickly for Sam and his mom to seek shelter inside.

Here are some tips for lighting safety:

• Watch for storms. They can spring up and move in very quickly in Florida, especially in the summer time.
• If you’re outside swimming, on the water, playing sports, at the beach, etc, and hear thunder, it’s time to pack it in. If you can hear the thunder, you’re close enough to be struck by lightning.
• Stay computers and avoid using other electronics during storms.