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How prevalent is it?
Lightening injuries are fairly rare but the National Weather Service reports approximately 75 deaths and
over 300 injuries annually. Lightening strikes most frequently happen in the summer between the hours of 3:00 – 8:00 pm, but can occur at any time from late spring to early fall.
There are three types of lightening strikes:
- Direct: when the strike directly contacts the person usually in the head
- Side: when lightening strikes an object then jumps to an
individual i.e. a golf club or tree
- Ground: when the electricity from lightening strike is
transferred through contact with the ground.
Who is most at risk?
The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration estimates that over 50% of the lightening injuries are individuals
participating in outdoor recreational activities. These people can include golfers, softball/baseball players, hikers or any other activity that has you outdoors in a thunderstorm. Additional risks
involve being the highest point on a field or by/in open water. Signs of impeding danger include your hair standing on end and hearing crackling sounds.
What Can Happen?
The injuries that can occur as a result of a lightening strike include eye and/or ear damage, cardiac difficulties, breathing
difficulties, concussion, nerve damage, electrical burns and even death.
Prevention of Lightening Injuries
The National Athletic Trainers Association and the National Collegiate Athletic Association have outlined some
recommendations to minimize the risk of being a victim of a lightening injury. These include a 30 – second flash-to-bang warning signal that results in cessation of outdoor activity,
evacuation to a safe shelter and a minimum 30 minute waiting period before outdoor activity resumes. This means that once you see lightening, if you hear thunder within the next 30
seconds, you evacuate to a safe shelter. A safe shelter is a fully enclosed, substantial building. If a safe shelter is not available, an emergency shelter such as a metal car should be used for
protection for at least the next 30 minutes from the last 30-second flash to bang instance. If help needs to be summoned for any reason, please remember to use cellular or cordless phones only.
If a safe shelter or emergency shelter is not available, follow these individual safety guidelines:
- Avoid having contact with or being the highest point on the field
- Avoid being in contact with open water
- Assume Lightening Safe position (see Photo) to minimize contact with the ground and protect ears and face.
Summary
Remember to PREVENT lightening injuries rather than treat them. Prevent these injuries by following the safety guidelines of
Monitoring the weather to avoid outdoor activity when risk of thunderstorm is the highest
- Evacuate to a safe shelter for at least 30 minutes if there is a positive 30 second flash to bang sign.
- If safe shelter is unavailable, evacuate to an emergency shelter
- If safe or emergency shelter is unavailable, assume a Lightening Safe Position.
For further information on this or other sports medicine topics, seek professional advice from the sports physical therapy
specialists at Skyline Hospital Physical therapy & Sports medicine department at (509)493-1101 ext 3396 or pt@skylinehospital.com.
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