| Your Health: Seeking Shelter in Summer Storms Saves Lives If your work or play takes you into the great outdoors this summer, there's a good chance that you may find yourself seeking shelter in a storm -- and the lightning that accompanies it. In the U.S., lightning is the second most common storm-related cause of death, exceeded only by floods.
Lightning, defined as an atmospheric discharge of electricity, can travel from a thundercloud to the ground at speeds greater than 130,000 miles per hour. It can heat the air in its immediate vicinity to temperatures that are three times hotter than the surface of the sun.
Lightning can zap vulnerable people and objects with millions of volts of electricity. That's considerably more than the 110 volts supplied by the electrical outlets in your home.
In spite of its awesome power, lightning isn't always deadly. A flash can come and go in a millisecond, and this brief duration is what allows many of its victims to survive.
People with minor lightning injuries are typically stunned and confused, and often don't remember being struck. Headaches, weakness and temporary loss of vision or hearing may linger afterward, but most victims recover fully.
People who experience major lightning injuries suffer far more serious complications. The skin can be severely burned by melting metal and rubber from zippers and shoe soles, and by moisture from rainwater when it is instantly vaporized to steam.
A lightning strike often causes the eardrums to rupture and may lead to the formation of cataracts on the eyes within days of the injury. Some victims suffer permanent paralysis or brain damage.
Lightning strikes can be devastating, but the good news is that you can take steps to avoid being struck in the first place. It's always best to stay indoors when a storm is brewing, but if you're caught off guard when you're outside in the elements, you may need to take emergency measures.
If you can hear thunder, lighting is close enough to strike you. The sound of thunder should be your cue to immediately stop what you're doing and head for a safe shelter, which includes a substantial building or the inside of an enclosed, metal-topped vehicle.
As you dash to safety, drop any objects that may serve as lightning rods, such as golf clubs, fishing poles and umbrellas. Once you reach shelter, it's wise to stay put for at least a half hour after you hear the last clap of thunder.
If you're in the water when a storm approaches, get out immediately and move as far away as possible. If you're stranded in an open area with no safe shelter in site, you can reduce your risk of injury by moving to the lowest point in the land and by staying away from single trees, towers or poles.
You'll know that you're in grave danger if you feel your hair standing on end, hear crackling noises or if objects around you appear to be surrounded by blue haloes. These are signs that lightning is about to strike, and it's time to hit the deck -- now!
You can make yourself less of a target by squatting in a tucked position, with only the balls of your feet touching the ground.
When lightning strikes, you may not be the only one in danger. Although most lightning fatalities involve a single person, it's not uncommon for several victims to be struck at once.
If you're unscathed when others are injured, you can be a lifesaver. If there's a phone in your immediate vicinity, call 911.
Contrary to popular belief, lightning victims aren't electrically charged, so they don't pose any threat to their rescuers. Although it may seem counterintuitive, you should first try to help anyone who appears to be dead, and start CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) if necessary.
After a lightning strike, a person's heart may stop beating and respiration may cease, at least temporarily. In many cases, the heart will resume beating on its own in a matter of moments.
The ability to breathe takes much longer to return, and without respiratory assistance, oxygen deprivation may lead to death. When rescue breathing is given until the victim is able to breathe alone, the chances of survival increase dramatically.
Although it's entirely possible to survive lightning-related injuries, most people would agree that it's far better to avoid them in the first place. Seeking shelter in a storm will reduce your risk of being struck by lightning, and it might even save your life.
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Rallie McAllister, M.D. is a family physician, speaker, and co-founder of www.MommyMDGuides.com, a website featuring child-raising tips from trusted doctors who are also moms. To find out more about Rallie McAllister, M.D., and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. Copyright 2010 Creators Syndicate Inc. |
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