NOUS42 KCHS 062018
PNSCHS
GAZ087-088-099>101-114>119-137>141-SCZ040-042>045-047>051-241000-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
500 AM EDT FRI JUN 23 2006

...LIGHTNING AWARENESS WEEK CONTINUES THROUGH SATURDAY...

IN THE UNITED STATES...EACH YEAR LIGHTNING KILLS AN AVERAGE OF 67
PEOPLE AND INJURES MORE THAN 300 PEOPLE BASED ON DOCUMENTED CASES.
HOWEVER...UNDOCUMENTED CASES COULD RUN THE NUMBER UP TO NEAR 100
DEATHS. WHILE ANY DEATH IS TRAGIC AND ALSO DEVASTATING TO THE FAMILY...
INJURIES CAN BE EQUALLY TRAGIC AND EVEN MORE DEVASTATING TO THE
FAMILY. FOR THOSE WHO HAVE A RELATIVE THAT SUFFERS A SIGNIFICANT
DISABILITY FROM LIGHTNING...LIFE CHANGES FOREVER.

IN ADDITION TO THE PHYSICAL PAIN AND MENTAL ANGUISH SUFFERED BY THE
VICTIM AND THE VICTIMS FAMILY, THE INCIDENT MAY LEAD TO A LOSS OF
INCOME FOR THE FAMILY. OVER TIME...MEDICAL EXPENSES FOR TREATMENT
MAY DRAIN THE FAMILYS ASSETS.

IF SOMEONE IS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THEY RECEIVE
THE APPROPRIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY. SOME DEATHS CAN BE
PREVENTED IF THE VICTIMS ARE ATTENDED TO PROMPTLY. LIGHTNING
VICTIMS DO NOT CARRY AN ELECTRICAL CHARGE AND ARE SAFE TO HANDLE.
FIRST...HAVE SOMEONE CALL 9 1 1 OR YOUR LOCAL AMBULANCE SERVICE.
CHECK TO SEE THAT THE VICTIM IS BREATHING AND HAS A PULSE AND
CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE VICTIM UNTIL HELP ARRIVES. CARDIAC ARREST IS
THE IMMEDIATE CAUSE OF DEATH IN LIGHTNING FATALITIES. IF NECESSARY...
BEGIN CARDIO-PULMONARY RESUSCITATION OR C P R.  IF POSSIBLE...MOVE
THE VICTIM TO A SAFER PLACE.  DO NOT LET THE RESCUERS BECOME LIGHTNING
VICTIMS. LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE THE SAME PLACE TWICE.

PHYSICALLY...ONLY FEW LIGHTNING STRIKE VICTIMS ACTUALLY SUFFER
BURNS. DUE TO THE CONDUCTIVITY OF THE HUMAN BODY, LIGHTNING BURNS
ARE USUALLY MINOR AND MOST LIGHTNING BURNS ARE CAUSED WHEN
OBJECTS NEXT TO THE BODY...SUCH AS NECKLACES...RINGS OR METAL COINS...
ARE HEATED BY THE LIGHTNING. SWEAT VAPORIZED BY LIGHTNING CAN 
ALSO CAUSE BURNS.

MENTALLY...LIGHTNING STRIKE VICTIMS MAY FACE MANY CHALLENGES THAT
THEY WILL HAVE TO LIVE WITH FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.  WHEN THE
BRAIN IS AFFECTED BY A LIGHTNING STRIKE...THE PERSON OFTEN HAS
DIFFICULTLY WITH MANY OF THE MENTAL PROCESSES THAT MOST PEOPLE
TAKE FOR GRANTED. THE PERSON MAY SUFFER FROM SHORT-TERM MEMORY
LOSS, AND MAY HAVE DIFFICULTY MENTALLY STORING NEW INFORMATION
AND ACCESSING OLD INFORMATION. VICTIMS MAY OFTEN FIND IT VERY
DIFFICULT TO CARRY ON MORE THAN ONE TASK AT A TIME AND MAY BE
EASILY DISTRACTED. THEIR PERSONALITY MAY CHANGE AND THEY MAY
BECOME EASILY IRRITATED.

VICTIMS OFTEN COMPLAIN OF BECOMING EASILY FATIGUED AND MAY BECOME
EXHAUSTED AFTER ONLY A FEW HOURS WORK.  THIS MAY BE BECAUSE MENTAL
TASKS THAT WERE ONCE AUTOMATIC MAY NOW REQUIRE INTENSE
CONCENTRATION TO ACCOMPLISH. ALTHOUGH SOME VICTIMS MAY SLEEP
EXCESSIVELY AT FIRST...AFTER A FEW WEEKS...MANY FIND IT DIFFICULT TO
SLEEP MORE THAN TWO OR THREE HOURS AT A TIME.

ANOTHER COMMON LONG-TERM PROBLEM FOR SURVIVORS IS PAIN.
MEDICALLY...PAIN IS DIFFICULT TO QUANTIFY. LIGHTNING STRIKE VICTIMS
OFTEN SUFFER IRREPARABLE NERVE DAMAGE FROM WHICH THEY WILL SUFFER
FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. THE PAIN CAN BE SO INTENSE THAT IT
AFFECTS THE PERSONS ABILITY TO FUNCTION.  MANY SURVIVORS COMPLAIN
OF CHRONIC HEADACHES...SOME OF WHICH ARE VERY INTENSE AND
DEBILITATING.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT...WHILE MANY LIGHTNING VICTIMS
SURVIVE...THEIR LIVES ARE CHANGED FOREVER AND THEIR DREAMS FOR THE
FUTURE AND THOSE OF THEIR FAMILY WILL NEVER BE THE SAME.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT LIGHTNING OR LIGHTNING SAFETY...
VISIT NOAA/S LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEB SITE AT...

HTTP://WWW.LIGHTNINGSAFETY.NOAA.GOV

$$