Survive a Lightening Strike

Image Credit: http://www.artofmanliness.com/

Yes It's Possible

But not fun as lightning strikes kill 24,000 people each year, worldwide with 240,000 surviving. It is far more common than you would originally have thought, so why not learn a better way to survive or safeguard yourself from this natural and possible phenomenon.

Even surviving a strike is not really a blessing as over many decades, survivors can continue to experience devastating long-term effects like severe nerve damage, cognitive issues (memory loss, inability to concentrate and personality changes) and many other health issues. But one of the harshest realities is that with the change in personality and mental attitude, friends begin to distance themselves... maybe even family.

Image Credit: ranker.com

Avoid

Many people will run for shelter... but many times the shelter they select is more of a target than protection. Hiding under tress (maybe the worst idea), or small shelters that are taller are like antenna.. try to avoid them.

Find stronger buildings (like commercial concrete and steel construction units), with a lot of electrical wiring and plumbing that will act like a Faraday Cage (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage) so you are more shielded from the massive electrical current.

Rubber soled shoes are little to no protection,nor are the rubber tires on the vehicle... the vehicle shields as it can act more like the Faraday Cage.

If you do need to use an automobile as protection (they do offer some protection), make sure it is not a convertible, the windows are rolled up and you do not touch any metal inside the vehicle.

Last Resort

So if you are caught out in the open the best protection is to remove as much of your conductive body off the ground. Never lie down but get as low as possible in your crouch. Adopt the posture in the first image by crouching down (allowing only the ball of the foot to be in contact with the ground (Electrical ground as well as physical), placing your elbows on your knees (forming a sort of Faraday Cage), covering your ears with your hands and touch the heels together.

In essence you want to be in the lowest point so you are not an antenna, but be careful where youcrouch as you need to avoid contact or nearby conductors, like that metal golf club or umbrella, fences, trash dumpsters, water and electrical poles or wires.

Be Smart

Even if you are in your home and there is a storm you could still be at risk. Like if you are at the computer writing your "How to Survive a Lightening Strike" for Steemit, stop and seek shelter.

A Personal Story or Few

A client of mine (a Physician) had to rush home from the hospital he was at to tend to his son (also a client) as he was struck by lightening... but not outdoors. He was on his computer while the storm was ongoing. The strike on his house sent an electrical charge through the wiring and shocked the kid. He was bolted from his seat, severely disoriented and lost some fingernails.

Other clients from myself and a colleague have been struck with many neurological short-circuits the outcome. One such individual was golfing when struck, he came in with a large indentation in his skull and a wound out of one of his heels... seems the lightening chose it's path. His friends said he was mid swing when he was struck... one can only surmise whether he would have survived had he been flat footed.

Another was a 14 year old boy that was in coma, needed a breathing tube and all the other life sustaining apparatus as he was incapable of his own life support. The bodywork helped him recover much mobility and muscle control again.

There are others but you get the idea, anything and everything is possible... look at this tattoo that is typical when struck:

Image Credit: BBC.com

That old saying...

Is bull... you know "Lightening doesn't strike twice". In fact a park ranger has the Guinness record for the most strikes with 7 to his credit. But there are many people that have been hit more than once, so please take caution in any electrical storm....

Good Health - Evan Pantazi