This Podcast Will Kill You cover image

Ep 93 Lightning & Other Stories: Power Hour (and a Half)

This Podcast Will Kill You

CHAPTER

The Most Instantaneously Deadly Injury That Happens With Lightning Strikes

The most instantaneously deadly injury that happens with lightning strikes is damage to our heart. Lightning can cause one single, instantaneous de polarization of the entire heart which just then stops the heart. It's actually far more likely to have successful resuscitation in the case of a cardio pulmonary arrest from lightning than from a lot of other reasons for cardiac arrest. But many times, people who are struck by lightning are otherwise young and quite healthy. So it might just be that they have more reserves, so to speak. We don't really know. I read anywhere from five to 30 % of the time. Most sources said ten to 30%. And a few papers said five to ten% of thetime.

00:00
Transcript
Play full episode

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts

Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
App store bannerPlay store banner