Second most common storm-related injury
Approximately 30 million ground strikes per year
Direct effect of electrical current on body
Electrical to thermal conversion of energy causing superficial and deep burns
Direct strike = patient is hit directly by<unk>  current
Often fatal and may cause penetrating injuries
Splash Injury = current "splashes" to the patient from another object which is struck first
Conduction =  patient is in contact with an object (e.g. metal fence, tree) that is struck by<unk> 
Ground current = Also known as step voltage. Occurs when the current spreads out from the initial strike point and then travels through the patient's body
Most common mechanism of injury
Blunt Trauma = Secondary injury pattern that results when the<unk>  causes a wave of force to propagate through the air to the patient or as a secondary object strikes the patient.
Often fatal and may cause penetrating injuries
Most common mechanism of injury
Reverse triage = in<unk> -related MCI cases, care should be delivered to patients in cardiac and respiratory arrest first
Patients struck by<unk>  who are alive on EMS arrival will likely survive
All patients should be transported, preferably to a burn center
Consider spinal precautions in all patients
Patients struck by<unk>  who are alive on EMS arrival will likely survive
Lightning injuries
Blast injury
Heat stroke
Smoke inhalation injury 
Cold injuries
Chemical injury
Acrolein
Head trauma 