Colorado Lightning Safety Awareness Week continues through tomorrow. Today we discuss lightning medical issues for survivors. Thursday's article can be found here.

The facts about lightning strike victims,  

In Colorado, cloud-to-ground lightning flashes occur nearly a half million times each year. With millions of visitors and extensive outdoor activities, it is not surprising that, on average, three people are killed by lightning while 13 are injured. Last year, 1 person was killed while hiking on Mount Yale. Seventeen other people were injured in several lightning strike incidences across the Centennial State.

While any lightning fatality is tragic, injuries caused by lightning can be devastating to both the victim and the family. For those who have a family member or relative that suffers a significant disability from lightning, life changes forever. In addition to the physical pain and mental anguish suffered by the victim and their family, the incident may lead to a loss of income for all involved as medical expenses can drain the family’s financial resources.

If someone is struck by lightning, it is critically important that they receive the appropriate medical attention immediately. Some deaths can be prevented if the victims are attended to promptly. Lightning victims do not carry an electrical charge and are safe to handle. First, Check to see that the victim is breathing and has a pulse, and start cardio- pulmonary resuscitation, CPR if needed. Then have someone dial 9-1-1. If possible, move the victim to a safer place. Do not let the rescuers become lightning victims. Lightning can strike the same place twice.

Lightning strike victims may face many mental challenges that they will have to live with for the rest of their lives. When the brain is affected by a lightning strike, the person often has difficulty with many of the mental processes that most people take for granted. The person may suffer from short-term memory loss, and may have difficulty storing new information and accessing old information. Victims may often find it very difficult to carry on more than one task at a time, and may be easily distracted. Their personality may change and they may become easily irritated.

Lightning strike victims often becoming easily fatigued and may become exhausted after only a few hours of work. This may be because mental tasks that were once automatic may now require intense concentration to accomplish. Although some victims may sleep excessively at first, after a few weeks many find it difficult to sleep more than two or three hours at a time.

Another common long-term problem for survivors is pain.

Medically, pain is difficult to quantify. Lightning strike victims often suffer irreparable nerve damage that causes intense pain that affects the ability to function. Many survivors complain of chronic headaches, some of which are very intense and debilitating.

Lightning Strike and Electric Shock Survivors, International, is a support group to individuals and families that are struggling with life after a lightning injury. Helpful information is available at their web address: www.lightning-strike.org

In addition, NOAAs lightning website contains abundant information on lightning safety and can be found at, www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov

Lightning information specific for the State of Colorado can be found at,  

www.weather.gov/pub/lightning
The lightning topic for tomorrow will be lightning caused fires.