Lightning Injury

Lightning injuries occur when someone is struck by lightning. Initial symptoms may include cardiac asystole and respiratory arrest; the asystole may resolve fairly rapidly on its own, but the respiratory arrest is typically more prolonged, and other symptoms may include burns and blunt injuries. About 75 percent of survivors have ongoing health problems as a result, such as cataracts and hearing loss, and death, when it occurs, is typically from an abnormal heart rhythm or respiratory failure.