Wedding Bands And Lightning: A Dangerous Combination?

It's a common misconception that metal attracts lightning. In reality, height, pointy shape, and isolation are the main factors that determine where lightning will strike. While metal does not attract lightning, it does conduct it. This means that if you are wearing metal, such as a wedding band, and lightning strikes something nearby, the current may travel through the metal to you. This is known as a contact injury and accounts for about 5% of lightning injuries.

Metal does not attract lightning but it can conduct it

It is a common misconception that metal attracts lightning. In fact, it is the height, pointy shape, and isolation of an object that are the dominant factors controlling where a lightning bolt will strike. Natural objects that are tall and isolated, such as trees and mountains, get struck by lightning many times a year, despite being made of little to no metal.

Metal does not attract lightning, but it can conduct it. This means that if you are wearing metal, such as a wedding band, and lightning strikes you, it will travel through your body. This is known as a contact injury and accounts for about 5% of lightning injuries. Contact injuries can also occur when a person touches a tree or building that has been struck by lightning.

Lightning injuries can be prevented by avoiding being outdoors during a thunderstorm and seeking shelter in a fully enclosed building or a closed metal vehicle, such as a car. If you are outdoors and cannot find shelter, it is recommended to stay away from metal objects, tall structures, and open, exposed areas.

In the unfortunate event that someone is struck by lightning, it is safe to provide first aid and CPR immediately. Contrary to popular belief, the affected person will not retain an electrical charge after being struck.

The human body does not store electricity

It is a common misconception that a person struck by lightning will retain an electric charge and that touching them will result in electrocution. This is false. The human body does not store electricity. It is perfectly safe to touch a lightning victim and perform first aid.

The electricity produced by our bodies is what allows synapses, signals, and even heartbeats to occur. Everything we do is controlled and enabled by electrical signals running through our bodies. Our bodies are huge masses of atoms, and the flow of electrons between these atoms is what we call electricity. Nearly all of our cells have the ability to generate electricity.

However, the human body cannot utilize externally applied electricity. Applying electricity to the body will either have no effect, or it will disrupt normal body functions or cause injury, depending on the amount of electricity. Electric currents can cause tissue damage and may trigger cardiac arrest. In many cases, humans are considered good conductors of electricity, and provide a viable pathway for electrons to flow. If a person dies from electric shock, their death is classified as electrocution.

Therefore, while the human body generates and relies on electricity to function, it does not store electricity.

Crouching does not make you safer outdoors

If you're outdoors during a lightning storm, it's important to remember that crouching does not make you safer. In fact, it might increase your risk of being affected by a lightning strike. So, what should you do if you find yourself in this dangerous situation?

First of all, don't waste time removing any metal objects you're wearing or carrying. It's a common misconception that metal attracts lightning. In reality, lightning is primarily attracted to tall, pointy, isolated objects. If you're outdoors and lightning is about to strike, your priority should be to find a safe shelter, not remove your jewellery or phone.

If you're caught outside in a lightning storm, your best option is to run to a substantial building or a hard-topped vehicle, like a car. These enclosed structures will provide you with the best protection against lightning. If you're too far away from any buildings or vehicles, you have no good alternative. Remember, you are not safe anywhere outdoors during a lightning storm.

If you absolutely must stay outdoors, there are a few things you can do to slightly reduce your risk of being struck by lightning. Stay away from metal objects, such as fences and power lines, as well as bodies of water like ponds or lakes. Avoid tall structures and open, exposed areas, including high ground or hills. Do not seek shelter under isolated trees, cliffs, or rocks, as these can be dangerous.

Instead, try to find a low-lying, open area and adopt the "lightning position". This involves sitting or crouching with your knees and feet close together, creating only one point of contact with the ground. If you're sitting, keep your feet off the ground, and if you have to stand, make sure your feet are touching. Cover your ears with your hands to protect your eardrums, which can be blown out by the pressure wave of a lightning strike.

Remember, crouching by itself will not make you safer outdoors during a lightning storm. Always prioritize finding a substantial building or vehicle to shelter in. These simple steps could save your life.

Lightning often strikes outside of the thunderstorm cloud

It is a common misconception that lightning only strikes within the vicinity of a thunderstorm cloud. In fact, lightning often strikes more than three miles from the centre of a thunderstorm, far outside the thunderstorm cloud. These lightning strikes are known as "bolts from the blue" and can strike up to 15 miles from the thunderstorm.

Lightning occurs when there is a rapid discharge of electricity between clouds, the air, or the ground. In the early stages of development, air acts as an insulator between the positive and negative charges in the cloud and between the cloud and the ground. When the opposite charges build up enough, the insulating capacity of the air breaks down, and lightning occurs.

Most lightning starts inside a thunderstorm and travels through the cloud. It can then stay within the cloud or continue to travel through the open air and eventually to the ground. There are roughly 5 to 10 times as many flashes that remain in the cloud as there are flashes that travel to the ground. However, lightning can strike where it's not raining, or even before rain reaches the ground.

When lightning strikes, it is seeking the closest and easiest path to release its charge. The presence of metal does not attract lightning, but it does provide a path for the lightning to follow. Therefore, it is important to stay away from metal objects during a thunderstorm, as they can conduct lightning.

While it is not always possible to know exactly how a victim has been struck by lightning, it is important to seek immediate medical attention for anyone who has been struck. Immediate medical attention may be critical in keeping the person alive until more advanced medical care arrives.

Lightning strikes can cause neurologic symptoms

It is a common misconception that metal objects attract lightning. In reality, height, pointy shape, and isolation are the dominant factors controlling where a lightning bolt will strike. However, metal does conduct lightning, and can therefore increase the risk of injury if contacted during a lightning strike.

Lightning strikes can cause serious neurologic complications, with damage to the nervous system being a significant problem for those who survive. The nervous system is often affected as lightning typically travels through the body via the cardiovascular and nervous systems. The neurologic complications of lightning strikes can be divided into four categories:

• Immediate and transient symptoms: These include brief loss of consciousness, amnesia, confusion, headache, weakness, and paresthesias. Many patients also experience a temporary lightning-induced paralysis called "keraunoparalysis".
• Immediate and prolonged or permanent symptoms: The majority of these complications involve the central nervous system and can be devastating. They include posthypoxic encephalopathy, intracranial hemorrhage, cerebral infarction, and myelopathy.
• Delayed and progressive complications: These can occur days, weeks, or even years after a lightning strike. They include delayed-onset cognitive deficits, motor neuron disease, and movement disorders.
• Lightning-linked secondary trauma: This includes serious head or neck damage from falls or being thrown by the lightning, as well as blast effects such as ruptured eardrums.

The prognosis for individuals who experience neurologic complications from a lightning strike varies depending on the type and severity of the complication. However, overall, lightning strikes can result in long-term or permanent neurologic issues, and even death.

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