Lightning Safety & Emergency Guide

1. Lesson 14:Lightning Emergency Reference Guide p. 65-66

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

3. Lightning Overview • Lightning strikes can cause harm in what ways? • Direct strike: person receives a direct 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 & 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 & feathery or fern like. Potentially at entrance & exit points • Trauma from strike itself, or being thrown (i.e. fractures, internal bleeding, etc.)

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

6. Guidelines for Evacuation • GO FAST for anyone struck by lightning • Even when person appears to recover. Serious problems sometimes develop later on, after a lightning strike

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

8. Preventing Lightning Injuries(cont’d.) • Things/places to avoid during a storm: • High places & high objects such as tall trees, towers, etc. • Open places (i.e. 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 (cont’d.) • Know local weather patterns • Plan turn around times (time needed to get back to the patient). Stick to your plan (don’t over extend) • Plot storms using these methods: • Distance to lightning is 5 seconds/mile • Follow 30-30 rule: seek safe location, if storm < 6 miles away. Wait 30 minutes 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 (cont’d.) • 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 a metal framed building. Avoid telephones, power wires or touching metal. Remove metal frame packs

12. Finding a Safe Spot (cont’d.) • 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 (i.e. life jacket, sleeping pad, etc.) • Take off metal framed packs & 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, at least 100 feet between individuals

14. Questions???What else could you add to your First Aid Kit?