Lightning – The Global Killer

The number of people killed by lightning in the United States has fallen dramatically according to figures just released.

In 2011, a year which will be remembered as the worst for tornadoes on record in the country, the number of deaths from lightning strikes was 26. This is a downward trend which has been continuing for more than half a century.

In the 1940s, when the U.S. population was half what it is today, lightning killed around 300 people each year. The worst year was 1942 when there were 432 fatalities.
Lightning is estimated to kill just 10 percent of those struck; the other 90 percent suffer varying degrees of disability.

The reducing death toll has been put down to greater awareness of the dangers of lightning, greater forecast accuracy and better warnings aimed at alerting the public.
The situation in the U.S. is mirrored in the United Kingdom where analysis of death certificates for each of the last three half centuries shows fatalities decreasing from 19 to 12 and in 1950-99, to just 5.

This improvement is not to be found everywhere. South Africa has seen the number of lightning deaths rise over the last few years. 28 people died in 2011 although the worst year on record was 2005 with 44 fatalities.

The South African Meteorological Service has offered no easy explanation for their figures. They say it will take time to establish whether there has been an increase in lightning frequency.

Whilst weather forecasters would wish to claim credit for any decrease in fatalities, TORRO, the Tornado and Storm Research Organisation, point out that other factors are at play:

Fewer people work outdoors, particularly in the agricultural industry; safer working conditions – with enclosed cabs for construction and farm vehicles and warnings for electricity pylon workers; and greater awareness of resuscitation techniques and improved ambulance services. (The above factors may go some way to explaining why five out of every six fatalities are males.)

The best place to be should a thunderstorm develop nearby, is in a solid-framed building with an internal wiring and plumbing system. A motor vehicle is also a safe location – a Faraday’s Cage – provided that the roof is metal and the electrical devices are not used.