Lightning safety

The most common sites of fatalities were...

under or near trees, on open sports fields, close to water and in the yard

What is an upward leader?

-a lightning channel developing from the earth toward the cloud -responsible for 10-15% of all lightning trauma

What is a concussive injury?

-aka blunt -results when lightning current causes violent muscular contractions, throwing victims many meters from the strike point -the injury caused by this lightning can be similar to a grenade without the sharpnel -common ear and eye injuries are commonly reported

What is a step voltage?

-aka ground surface arc -occurs when an individual near the strike intercepts a portion of the lightning current that flows radially outward from the ground strike -if one of the individuals feet is closer to the strike than the other, a step voltage is created between the feet; up one leg down the other - the most common mechanism -especially dangerous in large number of people

What is a side flash?

-aka splash -occurs when lightning strikes an object near the victim and a portion of the energy jumps from that object to true victim

What is a direct strike?

-it's the least common mechanism (up to 5% of all injuries reported) - occurs when a lightning bolt hits the victim without striking anything else before contact

What is a contact injury?

-occurs when the lightning victim is touching an object that is in the pathway of the lightning current -responsible for 3-5% of all lightning trauma

What are the 5 things that should be in a Lighting specific emergency action plan?

1) Promote lightning safety slogans 2) Establish a chain of command 3) use a reliable source to monitor local weather 4) identify safe locations to evacuate 5) identify specific criteria for suspending and resuming activity

What is the correct evaluation and treatment order for someone who has been struck by lightning?

1) move patient to safer location 2) evaluate and treat for apnea and cardiac arrest 3) assess level of consciousness 4) evaluate and treat possible spinal injuries or hypothermia 5) care providers should be first aid and CPR certified 6) if AED is available use on person who is unconscious, pulseless or apneic

Worldwide, lightning causes how many deaths and how many injuries annually?

24,000 and 240,000

How many lightning flashes strike the ground each year in the US?

25 million

Lightning had been in the top ____ of storm related deaths in the US. How many fatalities yearly?

2; 42

What percentage of fatalities arose in sports and recreational activity?

48-62%

What is the death rate for people who get struck by lightning?

8-10%

What is the least common mechanism of getting struck by lightning? Most common?

A direct strike; step voltage

What are the 6 mechanisms of lightning injury?

Direct strike, contract injury, side flash, step voltage, upward leader and concussive injury

90% of lightning casualties occur during what months? What time??

May - September; July has the greatest number of victims. 10 am to 7 pm

What is severe weather defined as?

Tornado, hail and large winds