Re: A nearby lightning strike can stop someone's heart even if they are not hit?

 

zeez wrote:

It wasnt thru inductance.

 



To clarify this a little:  Inductance from lightning is a big problem
in power transmission.    So are ground currents.  However, I wouldn't
expect the range of such phenomena to be measured in "miles."  If you
see "sparks flying" from a guy wire, I'd frankly guess it was corona
discharge from a high electric field nearby -- high enough to likely
result in a bolt in your near vicinity pretty soon -- or a direct hit,
or maybe a strong induced current, from a fairly nearby bolt.

As for the original UL -- keep in mind that I'm not a doctor or other
medical professional and don't even play one on the Internet -- some
lightning victims can exhibit various T-wave-related EKG weirdnesses
during their recovery, but I think it's an effect, not a cause.
(Punch "lightning T wave" into your favorite search engine; also
"mechanisms of lightning injury")   I would need some convincing
otherwise, with technical literature cites.

Note that lightning injury, including cardiac arrest, can and does
happen to bystanders who didn't participate firsthand in the actual
lightning bolt.  These may even amount to as many as half of lightning-
injury victims.    Anyone who thinks they received a shock as part of
a lightning strike should seek medical advice.

--Joe

 

Ad absurdum per aspera wrote


Yes, but neither of those happen over miles.


"miles."

Precisely.


Or to one.


Not necessarily. That can be discharged by a bolt miles away.


bolt.


Yep, mostly due to ground currents and the effect of those via the feet.


Varys with the circumstances.


seek medical advice.

Not really necessary if there are no visible effects. You dont get a delayed
action result.