Lightning strike survivors

report suffering a wide

variety of long-term
AFTER EFFECTS, of
which there are four
categories.

Memory Deficit
Sleep Disturbance
Attention Deficit
Dizziness

Depression
Agoraphobia
Storm Phobia
Flashbacks

Paresthesias
Numbness
Photophobia
Tinnitus

Stiff Joints
Muscle Spasms
Poor Grip Strength
External Burns

How frequently do strike

survivors report these
different effects?

OTHER
SENSORY

SURVIVORS (%)
20
25
30
35
40
45
50

EMOTIONAL
NEUROBEHAVIORAL

FREQUENCY
Low

O
th

ry
so

er

n
Se

na
l

l
ca

MUSCULAR PAIN

in
Sk

i
og

io
ot

ac

l
ro
eu

Em

di

KERAUNOPARALYSIS

DIRECT STRIKE!

INDIRECT
STRIKE!

High

LEGEND

r
Ca

Keraunoparalysis is a
condition unique
lightning strike
victims.

TYPES

The lightning hits you or

an object you are
touching.

The lightning hits

the ground and
then passes
through you, a
better conductor.

ARRHYTHMIAS
(Irregular heartbeat.)

(Weakness in limbs.)

DEATH!
HEADACHE

RESPIRATORY ARREST

FAINTING

EYE INJURY

Go to the
hospital.

PARESTHESIA

DEEP BURNS

(Pins and needles.)

Isolation.

CARDIAC ARREST

SUPERFICIAL BURNS

MYOGLOBINURA
(Symptom of muscle destruction.)

Sometimes
lightning leaves
behind branch-like
Lichtenberg figure
scars.

BROKEN BONES

RUPTURED EARDRUM

Walk it
off.

SHREDDED CLOTHING

MEMORY DEFICIT
Get support
from friends
and family.

BACK PROBLEMS

PHYSICAL THERAPY
DEPRESSION

PERSONALITY CHANGE

COUNSELING

MEDICATION

Get treatment.
In 2007 Mashburn,
founder of LSESSI,
reported having
talked 17 fellow
survivors out of
suicide.

SUPPORT GROUP

Lightning Strike
and Electrical
Shock Survivors
International
(LSESSI) was
founded in 1989.

SLEEP DISTURBANCE

DISABILITY BENEFIT
CHRONIC FATIGUE

NIGHTMARES

SUICIDE
OCCUPATIONAL
THERAPY

HEARING LOSS

NUMBNESS

PHOTOPHOBIA

5
4

BOWEL PROBLEMS

MUSCLE SPASMS

IRRITABILITY

FLASHBACKS

THE END

ARTHRITIS
Long-term after
effects can
sometimes take
months to appear.

SUICIDE