Newswise — Each year, about 50 Americans are struck and killed by lightning, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Summer is the peak season for lightning-related injuries.
"Summer is the most dangerous time of year for lightning, both because there are more thunderstorms at that time, as well as more people outside working and doing recreational activities," says Dr. Mary Ann Cooper, professor of emergency medicine and director of the lightning injury research program at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Those who do survive frequently have permanent health effects, including chronic pain, brain injury and thought-processing problems, said Cooper, considered the leading international expert on lightning-strike injuries.
"People struck by lightning may also suffer from a variety of long-term, debilitating symptoms," she said.
Some people hit by lightning may experience memory loss, attention deficits, sleep disorders, numbness, dizziness, stiffness in joints, irritability, fatigue, weakness, muscle spasms, depression, and an inability to sit for long, Cooper said.
Most people seriously underestimate the risk of being struck and do not know when or where to take shelter, Cooper said. Of those struck and killed by lightning, 98 percent were outside, 25 percent were standing under a tree and 25 percent occurred on or near the water, according to NOAA data.
This year, for Lightning Safety Awareness Week (June 22-28), NOAA is emphasizing the need for risk reduction and individual responsibility for getting to safety well before lightning strikes.
Lightning can hurt you even before it begins to rain and can strike as far as 10 miles away from the rain area of a thunderstorm, according to Cooper.
When planning outdoor activities, know what shelter is available and where to go if you hear thunder -- preferably a house, school or large building.
"The rule is, 'When thunder roars, go indoors,'" Cooper warns. "Decisions about lightning safety must be made by the individual, but education can help people reduce their chances of being struck by lightning."
Any outdoor activity should include a plan for seeking shelter, but it's also important to understand how lightning travels and take sensible precautions.
If you can't get indoors, get into a hardtop car, bus or truck. Once inside, keep away from phones (cell phones are fine), computers and video games. Never go under a tree.
When lightning enters a structure, it can travel through the electrical, phone, plumbing, and radio/television reception systems.
"Surprisingly, hard-wired phone use is the leading cause of indoor lightning injuries in the United States," said Cooper.
Wait 30 minutes after the last crack of thunder or flash of lightning before resuming activities or driving home, she says.
Cooper is a fellow of the American Meteorological Society. She works closely with NOAA's National Weather Service in its annual education program. More information about lightning and lightning safety is available at http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov.
For more information about UIC, visit http://www.uic.edu.
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