Duclos P J, Sanderson L M, Klontz K C
Health and Welfare Canada, Laboratory Centre for Disease Control, Ottawa, Ontario.
Public Health Rep. 1990 May-Jun;105(3):276-82.
Cases of lightning-related deaths and injuries that occurred in Florida in 1978-87 were reviewed to determine the factors involved, to quantify the morbidity and mortality related to lightning strikes, and to describe epidemiologically the injuries and circumstances involved. Statewide information on deaths was obtained from death certificates, autopsy reports, and investigative reports. Information about morbidity was obtained from the Florida Hospital Cost Containment Board data base and the National Climatic Data Center data base for all Florida counties, as well as from hospitals in selected counties. Lightning-related deaths totaled 101 in Florida during the period 1978-87, an annual average of 10.1. Eight percent of the victims were from other States. The overall yearly death rate for State residents was 0.09 per 100,000 population, with the highest rate being that for men aged 15-19 years, 0.38 per 100,000. Thirteen percent of victims were females. The ratio of lightning-related injuries to deaths in Florida was estimated at about four to one. Thirty percent of all deaths were occupationally related. The first strikes of lightning from a thunderstorm may be the most dangerous, not in terms of impact, but because of the element of surprise. During thunderstorms, people may seek shelter under isolated trees because they believe erroneously that a tree offers protection from lightning, or perhaps because their top priority is to escape from rain rather than lightning. People may not seek adequate shelter during thunderstorms because they do not know the dangers of remaining outdoors or their judgment is impaired by drugs or alcohol.
对1978 - 1987年发生在佛罗里达州的与闪电相关的伤亡案例进行了回顾，以确定其中涉及的因素，量化与雷击相关的发病率和死亡率，并从流行病学角度描述所涉及的伤害及情况。全州范围内的死亡信息来自死亡证明、尸检报告和调查报告。关于发病率的信息来自佛罗里达州医院成本控制委员会数据库以及佛罗里达州所有县的国家气候数据中心数据库，还有部分选定县的医院数据。1978 - 1987年期间，佛罗里达州与闪电相关的死亡总数为101例，年均10.1例。8%的受害者来自其他州。该州居民的年总死亡率为每10万人0.09例，其中15 - 19岁男性的死亡率最高，为每10万人0.38例。13%的受害者为女性。据估计，佛罗里达州与闪电相关的受伤与死亡比例约为四比一。所有死亡案例中有30%与职业相关。雷暴中的首次雷击可能是最危险的，并非从撞击角度而言，而是因其具有突然性。在雷暴期间，人们可能会在孤立的树下寻求庇护，因为他们错误地认为树木能提供避雷保护，或者也许是因为他们首要考虑的是避雨而非避雷。人们在雷暴期间可能不会寻求足够的庇护，因为他们不知道留在户外的危险，或者他们的判断力因药物或酒精而受损。
