Understanding the correct assessment and management of lightning injuries

Lighting has been viewed as a powerful and celestial event for milennia, and often as a weapon or tool of the Gods (Uman, 2001). Depictions of Gods using lightning as a weapon or symbol of power can be found in many cultures, including the Ancient Egyptians, Sumerians and in the Indian Vedic scriptures (Uman, 2001).

Unfortunately, in today’s society many erroneous beliefs still persist about lightning. For example, it is a widely held belief that being struck by lightning is universally fatal. However, the evidence shows a mortality rate of anything from 5% to 30% after lightning strikes (Cooper, 1980; Ritenour et al. 2007). This equates to around three deaths a year within the United Kingdom (Elsom, 2001). It is also untrue that a lightning strike can cause a person to burst into flames or be burnt to ashes. Furthermore, it is important to note that patients struck by lightning do not retain any electrical charge and are perfectly safe to touch (Davis et al, 2012). However, it is worth remembering that lightning can strike twice in the same location and so rescuers may be in danger from second discharges.