How to behave in a storm? First aid to a person who was struck by lightning

Weather forecasters predict that there will be storms in some regions of Poland. Check if you know what to do in a storm and what to do when someone is struck by lightning.

  1. It is estimated that there are four to five times more of those who survive a lightning strike than those who die
  2. In Poland, from a dozen to several dozen people die each year because of this
  3. Most survivors may experience various health complications, so after each such event, even if the victim declares that they do not feel unwell, they should seek medical attention.
  4. You can find more such stories on the TvoiLokony home page
Note:

Fatal lightning strikes most often in the mountains, less frequently in large bodies of water and large, open spaces with tall trees and / or buildings.

It’s best to be home during a storm. A car is also a good shelter, as long as it is parked in a safe place (e.g. not under a tree). At home, you need to close the windows, and it’s better not to touch metal objects.

The storm caught us outside the house: what to do?

  1. Avoid being near mountain peaks and ridges.
  2. Avoid open spaces, but do not stand under a single tree, pole. A dense stand of trees gives better protection.
  3. Get out of the water!
  4. If you are outdoors and have nowhere to hide, crouch with your knees and ankles together. You can sit on a canvas or leather backpack, bag, lines, provided they are dry.
  5. Don’t lie down on the ground!
  6. If you are in a group, its members should keep a distance of several meters between them.
  7. Remove any metal objects (such as carabiners) from the clothing.
  8. Avoid contact with any objects that can conduct electricity (metal and water are the best conductors).
  9. If you have a helmet, put it on your head.

How can lightning strike?

There are four mechanisms by which a person can be struck by lightning:

  1. Direct lightning strike to the body (rare)
  2. A spark discharge which causes a current to “travel” over the skin; it usually leads to extensive burns and can damage clothing;
  3. Lightning strike the ground near a person;
  4. Shock wave causing mechanical damage.

When lightning strikes, the current passes through the tissues with the least resistance. Because nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue are rich in water and electrolytes are most vulnerable to its damaging effects.

  1. Check what the skin of a person struck by lightning looks like

First aid to a person struck by lightning

  1. Keep yourself safe – rescuers have a saying that a dead lifeguard is a bad lifeguard
  2. Don’t be afraid to touch someone who is struck by lightning!
  3. Call for help
  4. Assess whether the victim is conscious, breathing, and whether his heart is beating
  5. If you cannot feel a pulse, do a cardiac massage
  6. If the victim is not breathing but has a pulse, start mouth-to-mouth resuscitation
  7. Treat visible burns and bleeding
  8. Stay with the victim until help arrives, support him mentally.

How do you know that you are in great danger?

TOPR lifeguard and emergency medicine doctor Sylweriusz Kosiński pays attention to signals that say that we are in great danger. One of them is “electrifying” the hair – that is, it rises in the direction perpendicular to the skin.

Another signal allows you to judge if you are near / far from the storm – it is very dangerous when less than 30 seconds elapses between the flash and the thunder. Importantly, we are completely safe only when 30 minutes have passed after the last flash or thunder.

Read also:

  1. Ticks – the most important questions and answers
  2. How to grill without regrets?
  3. 10 plants that make us allergic. When do they dust?
  4. How to deal with mosquitoes? Preparations and home remedies

Author: Justyna Wojteczek

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