- Emergency department care. Routine care should be performed for any complications such as seizures, chest pain, and other symptoms.
- Surgical therapy. No surgical therapy is indicated initially in cases of lightning injuries. ...
- Consultations. Consultations are based on physical findings and may include referral to a neurologist, cardiologist, ophthalmologist, otolaryngologist, or, rarely, a burn surgeon.
- Transfer. Transfer the patient as appropriate for patient status and stability, as well as for the capabilities of the treating facility.
- Follow-up. If the patient continues to experience pain, dysesthesias, or other neurologic symptoms, referral to a neurologist or a pain specialist is appropriate.
- Pregnancy. Effect of lightning injury in pregnancy varies. Of 11 pregnant women struck by lightning, approximately half of the pregnancies resulted in full-term live births without evidence of birth defects.
What are the treatment options for lightning injuries?
Lightning Injuries Treatment & Management 1 Emergency department care. Routine care should be performed for any complications such as seizures,... 2 Surgical therapy. No surgical therapy is indicated initially in cases of lightning injuries. 3 Consultations. Consultations are based on physical findings and may include referral...
What should you do in case of a lightning strike?
Here are a few things to do in case of a lightning strike. But not too low. Don’t lie down on the ground; this guarantees that if lightning hits the ground nearby, it could pass through your body as well. Instead, crouch down so you’re definitely not the tallest thing around—lightning is attracted to whatever is closest to it.
What is a lightning injury?
What are lightning injuries? Lightning injuries occur when a person gets struck by lightning. Lightning produces an electric current that can pass through your body and damage nerves and organs. What should I know about lightning? Lightning can occur even if the sky is clear or when it is sunny. Lightning can strike the same place more than once.
Do you know how to perform first aid during a lightning storm?
Most of the time, first aid should be performed immediately in serious cases. However, lightning storms can cause danger for rescuers as well as victims. Avoid putting yourself or other rescuers in positions where they could also be at risk of a lightning strike. If you can, move the victim to shelter before beginning any kind of first aid.
Can a person survive after being struck by lightning?
In most cases, a person's heart will stop after being struck by lightning, so the key to survival is having someone nearby who can administer CPR. Even if you survive, a lightning strike will have long-lasting effects on your body, including memory issues, muscle soreness and changes in mood.
What happens to a person's body who survived from a lightning?
Of every 10 people struck, nine will survive. But they could suffer a variety of short- and long-term effects: cardiac arrest, confusion, seizures, dizziness, muscle aches, deafness, headaches, memory deficits, distractibility, personality changes and chronic pain, among others.
What happens to a human when they get struck by lightning?
Injuries to the Body Dr. Griggs says if a person is struck by lightning, it can cause cardiac arrest, which stops a person's body from circulating blood and cause direct injury to the brain and nervous system, preventing the brain from being able to send the appropriate signals to tell the body to continue breathing.
Is death by lightning instant?
Enormous quantities of energy pass through the body very quickly, resulting in internal burns, organ damage, explosions of flesh and bone, and nervous system damage. Depending on the flash strength and access to medical services, it may be instantaneously fatal or cause permanent injury and impairment.
Does being struck by lightning hurt?
Though everything might look fine on the outside, the surge may have damaged the software within. Lightning-strike victims struggle to describe the pain and sensations of millions of volts of electricity passing through their bodies. Many simply say that the experience is unthinkable.
What are the chances of surviving a lightning strike?
Only about 10% of people who are struck by lightning are killed, leaving 90% with various degrees of disability.
What is the number one cause of death due to being hit by lightning?
Most deaths after lightning strikes occur either because of primary cardiac arrest or hypoxia-induced secondary cardiac arrest.