By Haley Kosik/WJEZ News

This week is Lightning Safety Awareness Week.

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency, the National Weather Service and local emergency management agencies is urging people to stay safe by heading indoors during storms during the week of June 21-27.

IEMA Director James K. Joseph said, “If you’re close enough to hear thunder, you’re close enough to be struck by lightning.

Joseph said remembering the phrase, “When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors,” can help you stay safe this summer while you’re enjoying outdoor activities. Once inside a structure or hard-topped vehicle, stay there until 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder.

According to the NWS, there were no lightning-related fatalities in Illinois in 2014. Nationwide, 26 people were killed by lightning. Most of those fatalities occurred outdoors, including people in open areas, under trees, working, in water or participating in other outdoor activities.

Chris Miller, warning coordination meteorologist with the NWS in Lincoln said, “While lightning fatalities have decreased significantly nationwide over the past two decades, far too many people still take unnecessary risks when thunderstorms are in the area.”

While less than 10 percent of people who are struck by lightning are killed, many lightning strike survivors suffer various degrees of disability.

People shouldn’t hesitate to help someone who has been struck by lightning since victims do not carry an electrical charge.

The surge of electricity through a lightning victim’s body causes cardiac arrest in most fatalities, so immediate medical attention is critical.

If the victim doesn’t have a pulse and isn’t breathing, CPR should be administered immediately.