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Deaths and injuries from lightning in the UK , 1988–2012
Author(s) -
Elsom Derek M.,
Webb Jonathan D. C.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
weather
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.467
H-Index - 40
eISSN - 1477-8696
pISSN - 0043-1656
DOI - 10.1002/wea.2254
Subject(s) - lightning (connector) , lightning strike , medical emergency , shock (circulatory) , forensic engineering , medicine , geography , meteorology , engineering , thunderstorm , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics
To assess the lightning risk to people in the UK, a 25‐year database was compiled of incidents in which people experienced an electrical shock due to lightning. The 445 known incidents involved 722 people. On average, two people were killed each year. Incident locations are analysed and discussed. Nearly half of all incidents occurred indoors but outdoor incidents accounted for two‐thirds of all people struck. 44% of outdoor incidents resulted in serious injuries or death but only 2% of indoor incidents involved serious injury and none were fatal. The incidents highlight that more lightning risk awareness is needed.