User:Mr. Ibrahem/Lightning injury

Lightning injuries are injuries caused by a lightning strike. Initial symptoms may include heart asystole and respiratory arrest. While the asystole may resolve spontaneously fairly rapidly, the respiratory arrest is typically more prolonged. Other symptoms may include burns and blunt injuries. Of those who survive about 75% have ongoing health problems as a result, such as cataracts and hearing loss. If death occurs it is typically from either an abnormal heart rhythm or respiratory failure.

Lighting injuries are divided into direct strikes, side splash, contact injury, and ground current. Ground current make up about half of cases and occurs when the lightning strikes nearby and travels to the person through the ground. Side splash makes up about a third of cases and occurs when lightning strikes nearby and jumps through the air to the person. Contact injury occurs when the person is touching the object that is hit. Direct strikes make up about 5% of injuries. The mechanism of the injuries may include electrical injury, burns from heat, and mechanical trauma. Diagnosis is typically based on history of the injury and examination.

Prevention includes avoiding being outdoors during a thunderstorm. If avoiding being outdoors is unavoidable crouching low is recommended. When indoors the use of devices connected to electrical outlets and contact with water is not recommended. Among those who appear in cardiac arrest and have no central pulse, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) should be started. In those who have a central pulse but are not breathing artificial ventilation, such as mouth to mouth, is recommended.

It is estimated that lightning injuries occur 240,000 times a year with 24,000 deaths. Areas with mountainous terrain and moisture-heavy airflow, such as Central Africa, have the highest rates of lightning strikes. Among pregnant women who are hit by lightning, the death of the baby occurs in about half. In the United States about 1 in 10,000 people is hit by lightning during their lifetime. Males are affected 4 times more often than females. The age group most commonly affected is 20 to 45 years old.