1. First Aid Essentials Slideshow Pictures
2. First Aid Bandaging Injuries Slideshow Pictures
3. First Aid Sprains & Strains Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

Timothy Price, MD

Medical Editor:

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

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A person struck by lightning may have immediate cardiac arrest. In others, you may see no outward signs of injury. Some people may lose consciousness for varying periods. They may seem confused and not remember what happened. Lightning may even flash over the outside of a person, blow off their clothes, and leave few obvious signs of injury.

Lightning may cause numerous other injuries:

• Heart damage or cardiac arrest may occur.
• Up to two-thirds of the seriously injured people struck by lightning have keraunoparalysis - a temporary paralysis unique to lightning strike.
• Victims may experience superficial burns. Contrary to common belief, deep burns are rare. They occur in fewer than 5% of lightning injuries.
• Various types of broken bones and dislocations may be caused by lightning.
• Skull fractures and cervical spine (neck) injuries may result from associated blunt trauma.
• Lungs may be damaged, causing shortness of breath.
• Eye injury may cause immediate visual problems or delayed cataract formation.
• The eardrum is commonly ruptured. This causes pain, hearing loss, and dizziness.