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Not only does it appear during rainstorms, lightning can also appear in a number of other events such as volcanic eruptions, forest fires, nuclear explosions, large storms, and snow storms.
Because the consequences of being struck by lightning can be deadly, you need to immediately take cover when lightning thunders in the sky.
Being struck by lightning can be dangerous because it causes death, so what kind of first aid should be done when struck by lightning?
Injuries and dangerous effects of being struck by lightning
Lightning injuries range from severe burns. Starting from permanent brain damage, to memory loss and personality changes.
It is estimated that there are 50 incidents of people being struck by lightning per second throughout the world, and there are around 24 thousand cases of death every year.
More than a third of deaths due to lightning strikes occur in the agricultural sector, in addition to other public places such as industrial sites.
Lightning also most often attacks people who work or do outdoor activities. Construction and material handling such as loading and unloading are examples of work activities that are most commonly affected by lightning strikes.
First aid when struck by lightning
If possible, provide first aid to the lightning strike victim while awaiting professional medical attention. But remember, make sure that it is safe to touch the body of a lightning strike victim.
Follow these steps as first aid measures when someone is struck by lightning:
1. Call emergency contacts immediately
People struck by lightning may experience cardiac arrest, so helping to resuscitate quickly can improve survival.
Call emergency contact assistance immediately and provide directions to your location, as well as provide information about the victim’s condition.
2. Make sure the situation is safe
While waiting for professional help, the most important thing is to make safety a priority. You must be aware of the continuing danger of lightning, both for victims and rescuers.
If the area where the victim is located is considered high risk (for example, an isolated tree or open field), the victim and rescuers could be in danger.
Therefore, wait until the danger has passed or if possible move to a safer place.
3. Perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Lightning often causes heart attacks, so you need to check whether the victim is breathing and has a heartbeat.
The best place to check the pulse is the carotid artery located in the neck just below the jaw.
If the person is unconscious and does not appear to be breathing normally or is not breathing, immediately begin mouth-to-mouth breathing assistance.
However, if the victim has no pulse, also carry out cardiopulmonary resuscitation measures, aka CPR. The stages of carrying out rescue actions through CPR are abbreviated as C-A-B or compression, airways, and breathing.
Compression is the stage of pressing the chest, airways is opening the respiratory tract, and breathing is providing breathing assistance.
4. Relieve trauma
Relieve the victim’s trauma or shock, lay the victim down with the head slightly lower than the body and legs.
5. Accompany until further treatment
After the medical team arrives, stay with the victim if necessary. The medical team will assess the victim’s condition. Next, at the hospital the victim will be examined for internal injuries and burns.
Steps to avoid lightning strikes
So that you avoid being struck by lightning, there are several things you need to pay attention to:
1. Look down
Bending and crouching can be done to avoid lightning hitting the ground, while ensuring you are not in the highest position.
Don’t bend too low and lie on the ground, because a lightning strike that hits the ground risks hitting your body too.
2. Cover your ears with your hands
Lightning can be very loud if it is directly overhead. Being hit by thunder can cause hearing loss, so try to protect your ears.
3. Take care of your hair
If your hair on your body or head starts to stand on end, or if you start to feel a tingling sensation, it could be a sign that lightning is about to strike.
If there is nowhere to go for safety, immediately hunker down or get into the car. A car is one of the safest places in the middle of a thunderstorm, because the metal of the car will direct electricity to the surrounding area outside you.
4. Don’t look too far for cover
A number of deaths caused by lightning strikes occurred when the victims were only a few steps from shelter, or in the process of running to it.
If your car or other shelter is more than a few feet away, it is safer to crouch and assume a safe position than to try and cross the distance.
5. Not under a tree
Even though they appear safe and can provide shelter, trees can attract lightning strikes. Apart from that, trees can also fall on you if they are hit.
6. Stay safe at home
If you are indoors or at home when lightning strikes, you can still take cover, although you still need to be alert and are not completely safe.
Stay away from landlines and electrical appliances. Don’t use water at home, because lightning can spread through telephone wires, electrical cables and plumbing pipes.
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