Work in the golf industry and heard and seen some close calls..it kills 80 people a year on golf courses alone so while I agree it's sick to witness, it's not insane to be frightened by it.
PS: I'm a wuss in general
- Isles316
How Big A Problem Is This?
Lightning is a major cause of storm related deaths in the U.S.. A lightning strike can result in a cardiac arrest (heart stopping) at the time of the injury, although some victims may appear to have a delayed death a few days later if they are resuscitated but have suffered irreversible brain damage.
According to the NWS Storm Data, over the last 30 years (1981-2010) the U.S. has averaged 54 reported lightning fatalities per year. Only about 10% of people who are struck by lightning are killed, leaving 90% with various degrees of disability.
ODDS OF BECOMING A LIGHTNING VICTIM
(based on averages for 2001-2010)
Estimated U.S. population as of 2011
310,000,000
Annual Number of Deaths Reported
39
Number of Injuries Reported
241
280
Estimated number of U.S. Deaths
40
Estimated number of actual Injuries
360
400
Odds of being struck by lightning in a given year (reported deaths + injuries)
1/1,000,000
Odds of being struck by lightning in a given year (estimated total deaths + injuries)
1/775,000
Odds of being struck in your lifetime (Est. 80 years)
1/10,000
Odds you will be affected by someone being struck (Ten people affected for every one struck)
1/1000
What Are the Medical Symptoms?
Immediate symptoms of Lightning Injury: Most victims experience only some of the symptons below.
Short-term memory
Problems coding new information and accessing old information
Problems Multitasking
Slower reaction time
Distractibility
Irritability
Personality change
Inattentive
Forgetfulness
Intense headaches
Ringing in the ears
Dizziness
Nausea and vomiting and other post-concussion types of symptoms
Difficulty sleeping, sometimes sleeping excessively at first and then only two or three hours at a time
Delayed Symptoms
Seizure-like activity
Pain from back injury or headaches
Personality Changes/Self-Isolation
Irritability and embarrasment because they can't remember people, job responsibilities and key information
Difficulty carrying on a conversation
Depression
Friends, family and co-workers who see the same external person, may not understand why the survivor is so different. Friends soon stop coming by or asking them to participate in activities. Families who are not committed to each other break up.
Medical Testing
There are two kinds of medical tests:
Anatomic tests take an x-ray, CT scan and MRIs or blood count measurement. These tests often come back normal
Functional tests show how something is working and are more useful: PET scan, neuropsychological testing
Help Exists for Victims
An organization of tremendous help to survivors, families, physicians and other professionals is Lightning Strike and Electric Shock Survivors, International (LSESSI), a support group formed in 1989 by a lightning victim. LSESSI has printed materials, offers tremendous support, networks survivors with others in their area, and provides an annual meeting where survivors come together for support and lectures from professionals who work with lightning and electrical survivors and their families. LSESSI can be reached at 910-346-4708, [email]
[email protected][/email], or see their Website at
http://www.lightning-strike.org/, or at P.O. Box 1156, Jacksonville, NC 28541-1156.
Four Factors Necessary for Recovery
The four most important factors in overcoming disability from lightning injury, or from any illness or major injury for that matter are:
Having a supportive family/friends network.
Becoming your own advocate and learning as much as you can about this disability.
Finding a physician willing to listen, read, learn and work with the survivor and their family.
Having a sense of humor.
