Rescue Team Saves Teen Who Fell 70 Feet Into The Grand Canyon

Last week, a 13-year-old boy survived a 70-foot fall into the Grand Canyon and was rescued by the Grand Canyon National Park's Search and Rescue team. According to ABC NEWS, Tuesday, the rescue team received a report that a visitor had fallen off the Bright Angel Point along the canyon’s North Rim. After ruling out a helicopter rescue, the team quickly set up a rope system to raise the injured boy to 70 to 100 feet back up to the rim.

The teen was then airlifted to a pediatric trauma center where he is reported to be in stable condition. Grand Canyon National Park's preventive search and rescue supervisor Meghan Smith praised the team’s efforts saying that their "training and hard work paid off, leading to a smooth, timely operation that will no doubt lead to better outcomes for this patient."

The National Park Service took the opportunity to remind visitors to be careful, to stay on designated trails, and keep at least six feet away from the canyon’s edge. The Grand Canyon rescue team responds to hundreds of calls each year and this time their work has helped to minimize what could have been a tragic situation.

Thankfully this story has a happy ending, but getting that phone call is a parent's worst nightmare. Thank goodness for the first responders, and here's hoping for the 13-year-old's speedy recovery!

Source: ABC NEWS

Thunderstorms can be both fascinating and scary, with their electrifying displays of lightning and booming thunder. However, not everyone knows that there are certain things you're not supposed to do when there’s a thunderstorm.

During the summer months, thunderstorms occur frequently due to the high humidity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 73 percent of lightning-related fatalities occur in June, July, and August. According to the National Weather Service, an excess of moisture in the atmosphere, atmospheric instability, and a triggering mechanism are the conditions that lead to thunderstorms. When these elements are combined, they can unleash a powerful symphony of heavy rainfall, thunder, lightning, strong winds, and even hail.

The American Red Cross has some advice on how to get ready for those wild summer thunderstorms. Taking preventive measures like subscribing to local government emergency alerts, equipping your home with backup batteries, and devising a family plan for hazardous weather situations can all prove invaluable during emergencies.

When it comes to thunderstorms, there are plenty of myths and misconceptions about what you should avoid doing. One of the most common misconceptions is that wearing rubber-soled shoes or being inside a car with rubber tires makes us immune to lightning strikes. Unfortunately, this couldn't be further from the truth. Lightning can still travel through the ground or the metal frame of a car, even if it has rubber tires.

Many people believe that as long as they're not directly under the storm cloud, they are safe from lightning strikes. However, lightning bolts can extend horizontally for significant distances, reaching as far as 10 miles away from the storm. And also keep in mind that trees, especially tall ones, are prime targets for lightning strikes due to their height and conductivity.

Along with getting prepared and knowing thunderstorm myths, you have to know what not to do during a thunderstorm.

Here are 5 things you should never do during a thunderstorm.