STORM TRACK: March 31, 1978 (Volume 1 Issue 3)

This subject will be discussed in three sections: Prevention, Physiological Impact, and First Aid (thru CPR -or- cardiovascular pulmonary resuscitation). My principal sources vere Understanding Lightning, Uman, 1971, "NOAA," April, 1976, and "American Scientist," Taussig, 57 (No. 3) 306-316, 1969. The latter was especially interesting and is highly recommended.

PREVENTION - When in the open: (1) Don't stand beneath a natural lightning rod; (2) Avoid projecting above the surrounding landscape; (3) Stay away from long distance conductors such as metal fences, drainage pipes and railroad tracks; (4) Stay in your car with the windows rolled up (to encourage lightning passage around the exterior of the car); (5) "In a wooded area, seek shelter ... among a thick growth of small trees" (Uman); (6) "Groups of persons should spread out -staying several yards apart- so that if lightning strikes nearby, the smallest number will be affected;" (7) If you must stand outside on level ground, do not place excessive reliance on the lightning rod effect of nearby taller objects to protect you. I don't believe that the state of the art is sufficient to give precisely safe distances from naturally occurring lightning rods ( trees, hills, etc.). I have often wondered how close I should be to ensure that the bolt would tag the taller object nearby but not me. In severe lightning situations, I usually stop within a quarter mile of a hill or clump of trees, leave the car quickly, and assume a crouch position 20-30 feet away for outside photography. I have seen lightning strike lower objects -such as a featureless, dry prairie hillside 40 feet below an adjacent hill top less than 200 feet away. I suspect that such occurrences are frequent enough to suggest extreme caution. The highest point will not necessarily draw all bolts. Several chasers have spoken to me about the "cone of protection" referred to by Uman. He characterized household lightning rods as "almost always" protective of objects within an imaginary cone of protection (defined as the ground radius from the rod's base that is equal to one (British standard) or two (American standard) times the distance from the base of the rod to its top; i.e. the conservative British rule would translate to a 45 deg angle from the rod's top to the ground). However, a distinction obviously needs to be made between a lightning rod's conductive efficiency and that of naturally occurring "rods" such as trees, hills, etc. As a non-meteorologist layman, I would assume that the less efficient the conductor, the smaller the cone of protection that "almost, always" protects. Therefore, Uman's advice should not be taken out of context and loosely applied to all possible conductors. (8) "If you're hopelessly isolated in a level field or prairie and you feel your hair stand on end -indicating lightning is about to strike- drop to your knees and bend forward putting your hands on your knees. ...(In the past, some authorities have recommended lying flat in this situation, to get as low as possible, but the International Commission on Atmospheric Electricity of the World Meteorological Organization disapproves this practice. It recommends kneeling, instead, so that a low profile is maintained while at, the same time keeping as small an area of the body in contact, with the ground as possible. The Commission also disapproves lying in a ditch or hollow where surface water or saturated soil is likely to be a better conductor ..."(NOAA, April, 1976). (Ed. note: What if you had been lying flat on the golf green illustrated on the cover of the June, 1977 Weatherwise?)

When inside: (1) Avoid using the phone, bathroom, or appliances which can carry a charge inside along wires or pipes; and (2) Don't stand near an open door or window since lightning may follow a horizontal current of warm/moist air. "...'sideflash,' accounts for a significant fraction of indoor lightning fatalities,"

PHYSIOLOGICAL IMPACT -- "Many people apparently 'killed' by lightning can be revived if quick action is taken. When a group is affected, the apparently dead should be treated first; those unconscious but breathing will probably recover spontaneously. First aid should be rendered to those not breathing, within four to six minutes or less ..." to prevent oxygen starvation to the brain and death (NOAA, April, 1976). However, lightning shock can stop or sufficiently slow metabolism and extend this critical time period from 10 to 20 minutes in some cases, with full recovery still possible (Uman). The heart "almost invariably starts with a normal rhythm ," but the respiratory center remains ineffective. Without oxygen the victim will eventually die, despite a normal heart beat (Heart action after a less powerful shock - as from an electric wire- may start with fibrillation and require a second shock from a hospital "defibrillator" to restore normal rhythm. However, the massive jolt of a lightning strike is essentially like that of a defibrillator, at the outset (Taussig). Therefore, -and paradoxically- if the victim's heart starts again, it may have been better that he was struck by lightning rather than touching a "live" wire.)

A lightning victim may appear dead, without pulse or breath and with blue lips and pupil dilation. Open wounds may not bleed. The victim may regain consciousness and then lapse into coma -appropriate CPR measures can again revive him. When the victim regains consciousness, ha may feel paralysis in the limbs and be unable to speak. Retrograde amnesia may set in. Paralysis may change to numbness and "tingling" in the limbs for several hours thereafter. Minor electrocardiogram changes and elevated blood pressure may result for several days. However, for those who survive, recovery is normally complete. The most common lingering problems are with the ears and eyes, and vary from incapacity (change of color sense, blurring, reduced hearing) to permanent injury (blindness and deafness -usually in one year). Interestingly, burns may heal readily without need for skin grafts or sloughing of old skin (Taussig).

FIRST AID - Now to the basic principals of cardiovascular pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). First off, I urge everyone to take a formal CPR training course (I am scheduled to take one in two weeks). This is not a subject to be taken lightly, nor can the following substitute for such training. In fact, incorrect, application can kill rather than save the victim. Also, depending on local "good samaritan laws," you can be sued for causing greater injury especially without formal CPR training (sometimes, even the trained individual will break one or two ribs when using chest compression). Therefore, the user of CPR assumes a solemn responsibility. He must be in full command of his own emotions and able to think quickly, clearly and deliberately. I mention this only to emphasize the risk involved and to insert a caution regarding the following guidance. It is provided solely for the reader who is unable -due to time constraints (studies, work, etc)- to take the course before onset of this spring's tornado/lightning season. It is offered with the author's conviction that some knowledge is better than none. If a fellow chaser steps out of your car for a picture and is struck by lightning or you come upon a recent victim by the side of the road, it is far better to know something of how to help than to stand there totally ignorant and do nothing while a life slips needlessly away. Therefore, the following is presented for possible use, depending on

your own good judgement (The author specifically disavows accountability for any guidance herein, and the reader assumes total responsibility for applications thereof). Assuming that you are alone with the victim, the following is presented in ordered sequence.

1. If possible, send for an ambulance and oxygen immediately. Check for unconsciousness - call to or pinch the victim.

2. First, examine the victim for 4-5 seconds and look for breathing -e.g. chest movement, or listen for air from the nose/mouth.

3. Check for pulse by drawing two fingers along the neck from the "Adam's apple" to the hollow in the neck and feel here for pulse. This is preferable to checking for a pulse in the wrist, since the limbs can be pulseless after a lightning shock.

4. If the heart is beating at a normal rhythm (usual after a lightning shock) but there is no breath, immediately initiate artificial respiration procedures:

(a) Loosen constrictive clothing (ties, brassieres, etc.).

(b) Place victim on his back and tilt head back so that chin points up.

(c) Open your mouth wide and "lock" it over victim's mouth so no air escapes. Pinch victim's nostrils shut.

(d) Blow into victim's mouth forcefully (assumes an adult) with four quick breaths without waiting for chest to fall, since initial air intake is important. Watch for chest/stomach to rise, indicating effect. If the airway is clear, only moderate resistance to blowing will be felt. Then, listen for air leaving mouth/nose to assure unobstructed outflow. Apply subsequent inflations at about 12 per minute (once every 5 seconds). Continue to listen for rush of air from victim's lungs.

(e) When the victim revives, treat for shock.

5. If the heart is not beating, apply the initial four breaths as previously noted, and check for pulse 8-12 seconds thereafter. If there is no spontaneous start, begin full CPR -including chest compression. Alternate chest compressions with breaths at the rate of 15 compressions and two inflations, then 15:2 ... etc. Remember, be sure there is no pulse before starting. Unnecessary chest compression on a heart already normally beating can induce fibrillation and kill the victim. Therefore, never-NEVER practice this on anyone!! Here's how to do compressions:

(a) Prepare the victim as in 4 (a) to (b).

(b) The exact point to apply pressure is on the lower half of the breastbone (sternum) and is two fingers above the soft spot in the lower chest where the breastbone ends. Pressure must be applied here and nowhere else for this to work.

(c) Kneel at the victim's side. Press down with the heel of your hand at the pressure point, (X) with a firm, heavy pressure. Lean forward and let, your back and body do the work. Press down 1- to 2 inches. This compresses the heart between the breastbone and the spine, forcing blood to circulate. Note: pressure must be applied straight down and not at an angle; angled pressure is a sure way to break ribs. Also, note that -since hearts may start spontaneously after lightning shock you should check frequently initially after beginning CPR, in case of a quick start. This would avoid continuing CPR beyond resump- tion of normal heart action.

(d) Continue until a doctor takes over or person begins breathing for himself. Have someone else call for doctor or ambulance. If another person can help, one can do chest compression alternately while the other gives mouth to mouth resuscitation at a rate of 5 compressions to one ventilation.

Before applying any CPR, be alert to other possible injuries such as skull fractures resulting from being hurled against the ground or an object by the lightning bolt's concussion. Neck and back injuries may also have occurred.