1. Lesson 14: Lightning

2. Objectives Describe how lighting can cause injury/death
Describe the prevention of a lightning induced injury
Describe the emergency treatment and care for lightning injuries
Describe when evacuation is necessary in lightning cases

3. Lightning Overview
Lightning strikes can cause harm in the following ways:
Direct strike: person is directly hit
Splash: when strike jumps from its direct target to a person
Ground current: electrical charge from lightning radiates from strike point through the ground
Long conductor: object person is touching is hit (such as a pole or fence)
Blast injury: object such as tree is hit and explodes

4. Types of Lightning Injuries
Lightning strikes are dangerous and can affect all parts of the body
Types of injuries:
Cardiac or pulmonary arrest
Neurological problems, loss of responsiveness, paralysis, seizures
Blindness, often temporary
Burns, typically superficial and feathery or fern like. Potentially at entrance and exit points
Trauma from strike itself or being thrown (fractures, internal bleeding, etc)

5. Caring for Lightning Injuries
When scene is safe, do primary and secondary assessment, get SAMPLE history and vital signs
Start CPR immediately, if needed
Treat other injuries as required
Be ready to treat secondary issues, such as hypothermia for wet patients

6. Guidelines for Evacuation
GO FAST for anyone struck by lightning
Even if person appears to recover. Serious problems sometimes develop later from a lightning strike

7. Preventing Lightning Injuries
What things should you avoid during a lightning storm?

8. Preventing Lightning Injuries
Things/places to avoid during a storm:
High places and high objects such as tall trees, towers, etc
Open places (lakes, fields, areas above timberline)
Damp shallow caves and tunnels
Overhangs
Flood zones
Long conductors such as fences
Places obviously hit in the past

9. Preventing Lightning Injuries
Know the local weather patterns
Plan turn around times (time needed to get back). Stick to your plan (don’t over extend)
Plot storms using these methods:
Distance to lightning is 5 seconds/mile
Follow rule: seek safe location if storm < 6 miles away. Wait 30 mins after storm passes

10. Finding a safe spot Activity: Break into 2 groups
Come up with rules for the safest available location

11. Finding a safe spot Move downhill Move out of meadows
Seek uniform cover such as rolling hills, or trees all about the same size, low spot among rocks, etc
Take shelter in metal frames building. Avoid telephone, power wires or touching metal. Remove metal frame packs

12. Finding a safe spot Take shelter in hard topped motor vehicles
If boating, get to land and move away from shore
Pick safe campsites (see above rules)
Provide instruction to all members of group
Lightning CAN strike twice in the same location

13. Assuming a safe position
If available stand on an insulator (life jacket, sleeping pad, etc)
Take off metal framed packs and move away from them
Squat or sit in tight body position (get low minimize contact to ground)
Do not lie down
Cover ears with hands, close eyes, get head close to knees
Spread out, 100 feet between individuals