How to Treat Someone Struck by Lightning
from the Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook, by Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht
Hopefully, no one will ever happen upon anyone who has been struck by lightning, but it's better to be prepared for such an emergency than to hope that it never occurs.
1. Call 911 to report the strike and give directions to emergency personnel. With immediate treatment, victims can survive and encounter with lightning. If multiple people have been struck, treat the apparently "dead" first. People who are unconscious but still breathing will probably recover on their own.
2. Move to a safer location to avoid getting struck yourself. It is unusual for victims who survive a lightning strike to have major fractures that would cause paralysis or major bleeding complications unless thy have suffered a fall or been thrown a distance. Do not be afraid to move the victim rapidly if necessary; individuals struck by lightning do not carry a charge and it is safe to touch them to give medical treatment.
3. In cold and wet environments, put a protective layer between the victim and the ground to decrease the chance of hypothermia, which can further complicate resuscitation. Check for burns, especially around jewelry and watches.
4. If the victim is not breathing, start mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Give one breath every five seconds. If moving the victim, give a few quick breaths prior to moving.
5. Determine if the victim has a pulse. Check the pulse at the carotid artery (side of the neck) or femoral artery (groin) for at least twenty to thirty seconds.
6. If no pulse is detected, start cardiac compressions.
7. If the pulse returns, continue ventilation with rescue breathing as needed for as long as practical in a wilderness situation.
8. If a pulse does not return after twenty to thirty minutes of good effort, stop resuscitation efforts. In wilderness areas far from medical car, prolonged basic CPR is of little use-the victim is unlikely to survive.