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Case Reports
. 2018 Oct;87(3):168-172.
Epub 2018 Oct 1.

Lightning injuries in Northern Ireland

Aseel Sleiwah  1 , Jill Baker  2 , Christopher Gowers  3 , Derek M Elsom  4 , Abid Rashid  5
Affiliations
Case Reports

Lightning injuries in Northern Ireland

Aseel Sleiwah et al. Ulster Med J. 2018 Oct.

Abstract

Introduction: Lightning injuries are uncommon in Northern Ireland (NI) with scarce reports detailing incidence and local experience. We present a case study of 3 patients involved in a single lightning strike with a review of the incidence of similar injuries in the province.

Methods: Data from TORRO's National Lightning Incidents Database between 1987 and 2016 (30 years) were searched to identify victims of lightning injuries in NI. Information on 3 patients with lightning injuries that were managed in our regional burns and plastic surgery service was collected and examined. A supplementary search in hospital records was conducted over the last 20 years to identify additional data.

Results: Prior to our study, 6 victims of lightning injuries were identified of whom 5 survived and 1 died. Our 3 patients comprised of 2 children and 1 accompanying adult. All survived but the adult suffered cardiac arrest and required a prolonged period of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Conclusion: While lightning injuries are rare in NI, this is the first report of more than one person affected by a single lightning incident in the province. In our limited experience, immediate public response and prolonged cardiopulmonary resuscitation efforts facilitated by automated defibrillators result in a favourable outcome.

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Conflict of interest statement

Provenance: externally peer-reviewed.

Figures

Fig 1.
Fig 1.
Lightning burn scar 1 year following the injury
Fig 2.
Fig 2.
Left lower limb of the 5-year-old boy showing superficial partial thickness burn and erythema
Fig 3.
Fig 3.
Right big toe of the 5-year-old boy showing full thickness burn
Fig 4.
Fig 4.
Lightning flash density for the UK, Ireland and surrounding areas highlighting that injuries and fatalities caused by lightning are likely to be relatively few in Northern Ireland compared with some parts of the UK. Maximum flash density (light green colour: up to 1.0 flashes per km2 per year) is located in the English North Midlands. Data compiled from the Met Office Arrival Time Difference Network (ATDnet) lightning location system. Reproduced courtesy of the Met Office.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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