Lightning-caused Accidents and Injuries to Humans

According to the US NOAA, lightning is the second killer among the four major storm-related hazards, just after floods but before tornadoes and hurricanes. About 100 individuals, on average, are killed annually by lightning in the United States, and more than 500 people are injured. Up to 20 % of lightning victims die. Typical accidents are due to lightning through a direct or indirect strike to human being(s). The possible pathways of interactions between the lightning flash and human body are direct strike, side flash, surface arcing, touch voltage, step voltage, subsequent stroke(s), upward leaders and shock waves. These various kinds of mechanisms are described and some evaluated in terms of electrical parameters. The permanent or temporary injuries that a victim suffers depend, among other parameters, on the type of interaction through which the body is exposed to a lightning strike and the path and the strength of the electric current passing through the body. Signs and symptoms of lightning injury may be moderate, strong or severe. If the victim escapes to death, the aftereffects are often lifetime lasting. A new branch of medicine has been devoted to such trauma and called keraunopathology. An important issue is the medical care of victims and the management of specialised rescue teams. Personal safety rules have to be dispatched towards any kind of public, mainly those subject to the highest risk in their outdoors activity (recreation, sports, climbing, sailing, fishing, farming ...). Some very basic rules must be known, such like the 30/30 Rule.