This is serious! But real bad luck too, you tell her what to do?

Question

My Mrs was in a Call box, it was hit by a bolt of lightening, she says she feels a bit funny, and a bit tense! I told her she needs to see the doctor/hospital... she says there is not physical injury, but there is a big bruise and like dots on her leg... i think the bolt travelled through her and used her as an earth, she needs an E.C.G. doesn't she... she won't listen! Tell her! Please!

Answer 1

Lightning injuries differ from other electrical shocks

Being hit by lightning isn't necessarily fatal. In fact, only about 20 percent of lightning victims are immediately struck dead, according to Dr. Elisabeth Gourbière of the Electricitie de France, Service des Etudes Médicales in France.

Unfortunately, many doctors do not fully understand how to treat the injuries of lightning victims who survive a strike.

Says Gourbière, "The pathology of lightning, or keraunopathy, is known only to a few specialists."

Further information.

Resources: Lightning science and safety



Most doctors are more familiar with electrical shocks, such as those received by industrial workers when they have an accidental run-in with high-voltage equipment. But lightning injuries are not the same as electrical shocks. For one thing, the contact voltage of a typical industrial electrical shock is 20 to 63 kilovolts, while a lightning strike delivers about 300 kilovolts.

Industrial shocks rarely last longer than half a second (500 milliseconds) because a circuit breaker opens or the person is thrown far from the live conductor. Lightning strikes have an even shorter duration, only lasting up to a few milliseconds. Most of the current from a lightning strike passes over the surface of the body in a process called "external flashover."

Both industrial shocks and lightning strikes result in deep burns at point of contact — for industry the points of contact are usually on the upper limbs, hands and wrists, while for lightning they are mostly on the head, neck and shoulders.

Industrial shock victims sometimes exhibit deep tissue destruction along the entire current path, while lightning victims’ burns seem to center at the entry and exit points. Both industrial shock and lightning victims may be injured from falling down or being thrown, and the leading cause of immediate death for both is cardiac or cardiopulmonary arrest.

If you survive a shock, you still have to deal with the consequences of the electrical burns. Industrial shock burns can lead to kidney failure, infection, muscle and tissue damage, or amputation. Lightning burns are exceptionally life threatening.

Gourbière says that 70 percent of lightning survivors experience residual effects, most commonly affecting the brain (neuropsychiatric, vision and hearing). These effects can develop slowly, only becoming apparent much later.

Many lightning victims had been walking in an open field or swimming before they were struck. Other lightning victims had been holding metal objects such as golf clubs, fishing rods, hay forks, or umbrellas. But even those not holding metal objects are as likely to be struck by lightning as a bronze statue of the same size.

To avoid being struck by lightning, you should seek shelter when you hear even the faintest thunder. Some of the best places to take refuge are enclosed buildings, or cars and buses (but don't touch the metal!). In case there are no safe spaces nearby, bend into a crouching position until there is a break in the storm.

Isolated trees, telephone booths, and open structures like gazebos or porches make poor lightning shelters. If there is a tall object nearby, move as far away as possible - at least 2 meters (7 ft). Standing next to tall isolated objects like poles or towers makes you vulnerable to secondary discharges coming off those objects.

Source: NASA Space Science News, 1999

Answer 2

I think a trip to the doctor is in order. If there's no damage, great, but why take the chance?

You might try to take the tack of telling her that you'd like her to get checked if for no other reason than to humor you. I've had to use that technique on my husband, and for some reason people seem much more willing to do something they object to if it's put in terms such as that.

Answer 3

Yes go see a doctor. I'm not an expert but it seems to me being stuck by lightning may not be the healthest thing to happen to someone. Having an electrical current rip through you could cause some serious problems.

Answer 4

tell her like it´s serious she will really listen to you cause she´ll be afraid you might be right. then she´ll go to the doctor; or just sit and talk to her if she love you and knows you love her she will know you r telling the truth she will listen.

Answer 5

Yes, definitely have her checked out by a physician. Could be neurological damage, or....?

Answer 6

definitely go to a doctor,it can't be good that she has spots and a bruise.