CARE AND PREVENTION ( LIGHTING)

( true or false ) most lighting victims survive, but they suffer from long term debilitating symptoms 

True 

( true or false ) Males are four times more likely to be struck by lighting than females

True

( true or false )  about one - third of lighting injuries occur indoors

True

( true or false )  90% of deaths occur between may and sept ( most in july )

( true or false )  80% of lighting victims are men 

True

True 

Mechanisms for lighting strikes

Direct strike 

Side flash 

step voltage, ground current 

Conduction - along metal 

Streamers - upward leaders 

Define key lighting injuries suffereed

Eye injury

Lung / hear damage 

Broken bones 

Eardrum rupture 

Skull fracture 

Burns 

Define the 4 patterns of burns

Linear

Punctate

Feathering 

Thermal 

How can fatalities be avoided

Being proactive

having a lighting specific EAP for each venue

Some components of lighting EAP

1. Promote lighting safety slogans

2. Chain of command ( who has authority to cancel suspend play) 

3. Monitor weather ( radios, internet, TV) 

4. Identify safe locations 

5. Identify criteria for suspending / resuming play ( resume play 30 minutes after last flash or bang or thunder )

name some safe locations

Fully enclosed, substantial building

Full enclosed vehicle 

Name some unsafe locations 

Indoor swimming pools 

Showers in locker rooms 
Dugouts 

Under trees

You should postpone at the first sound of thunder or first sight of lighting

True

All individuals should be in safe locaitons when storm is ? miles away

6 miles

How would you estimate the distance of lighting?

Count the number of seconds untill you heat thunder, divide the number by five to obtain distance 

What can you do if lighting strikes?

Survey scene ( treat victims who are dead first )

Activate EMS 

Treat for apnea and asytole 

treat for shock and hypothermia 

treat fractures 

treat burns 

What should you do if you are caught outside

Get off of elevated areas

Never lie flat on ground

Get out of bodies of water

Stay away from objects that conduct electricity