The dark side of lightning – when it strikes and causes damage or death

If you watched News4JAX this morning – and I hope you did – you may have seen our harrowing story about the 19-year-old father taken far too soon by a lightning strike.

Ethan Lawerence was struck and killed while jogging in a local park. Sadly, he leaves behind his girlfriend and son.

Lightning is one of the many weather hazards and I want to tell you everything you need to know about lightning and its potential effects.

According to the National Weather Service, lightning can strike people in five different ways: direct strike, side-on strike, ground current, conductive lightning, and lightning strikes.

Each of these blows can cause immeasurable damage to a person and even lead to death.

A direct lightning strike occurs primarily when a person is in an open area. When lightning strikes, the lightning moves through the nervous system or cardiovascular area of ​​the body. A direct lightning strike can also cause burns to the body due to the heat from the lightning. Survival depends on how strong the current becomes as it moves through the body.

Side-strike lightning occurs when lightning strikes an object that is larger than a person but is in close proximity. This can happen because the lightning strikes the larger object, but some of the energy from the lightning transfers to a person and strikes them as well.

A ground current is responsible for most lightning deaths because the lightning strikes something, such as a tree or house, but then travels along the ground, putting people at risk of being struck. The downside of ground currents is that they travel long distances, so livestock are often exposed to ground currents and die, according to the National Weather Service.

Conduction occurs both indoors and outdoors and occurs when the lightning strike travels very long distances in metal or wires. Essentially, this is why it’s unsafe to shower or handle anything you might plug in during a thunderstorm. Electrical outlets and things that plug into electrical outlets can be affected.

Finally, “streamers” occur when the main lightning strikes the ground, but surrounding “streamers” come down and can strike and injure or kill a person.

Lightning strikes can kill and injure people and animals. If a person survives, they can usually recover brain damage or lightning burns.

According to the National Weather Service, about 20 people are struck by lightning each year, and many more are injured.

Whether the sky is blue or gray, remember: If you HEAR thunder, you are in the lightning risk zone and CAN be struck by lightning.

Be careful out there – and go indoors when it thunders.