Lightning strike to the head: case report

J Trauma. 1994 Jan;36(1):113-5. doi: 10.1097/00005373-199401000-00019.

Abstract

A case is presented of a teen-aged athlete who sustained a direct lightning strike to the head while wearing a football helmet. The helmet, the presence of sweat, and aggressive resuscitation were instrumental in his survival and complete recovery. This appears to be the first documentation of a lightning strike to an individual wearing protective headgear.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
  • Craniocerebral Trauma / classification
  • Craniocerebral Trauma / complications
  • Craniocerebral Trauma / epidemiology
  • Craniocerebral Trauma / therapy*
  • Electric Impedance
  • Emergency Medical Services
  • Football
  • Glasgow Coma Scale
  • Head Protective Devices*
  • Heart Arrest / etiology*
  • Heart Arrest / therapy
  • Hematoma, Subdural / diagnostic imaging
  • Hematoma, Subdural / etiology*
  • Hematoma, Subdural / therapy
  • Humans
  • Lightning Injuries / classification
  • Lightning Injuries / complications
  • Lightning Injuries / epidemiology
  • Lightning Injuries / therapy*
  • Male
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Triage