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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Edmonton resident struck by lightning in Thursday storm saved by paramedics
A west Edmonton resident struck by lightning during a Thursday afternoon storm burst was saved by quick intervention from Emergency Medical Services (EMS) paramedics who happened to be nearby. 'At approximately 4:15 p.m. on July 24, Alberta Health Services EMS received a call for an incident near Callingwood Estates,' said a Friday statement emailed to Postmedia from Community Engagement and Communications for AHS. The individual, transported to hospital in critical condition, had to be resuscitated at the scene, friends of the victim shared on social media. The call came in close to an EMS station, and the response was lightning fast, with first responders arriving in a minute. 'I helped call them in, they were indeed there that quick,' posted one friend of the victim. A poster named Brodi said Edmonton is lucky to have some of the most amazing paramedics around. 'The fact that they do the job in all kinds of weather conditions — some quite dangerous, like thunderstorms, extreme heat, blizzard conditions — just shows some serious determination and dedication to their jobs and to helping others,' Brodi said. Lightning has been in the news recently after Olympic ski cross medalist Audun Groenvold, 49, died after being struck by lightning. Groenvold, who won bronze at the 2010 Vancouver Games, was a coach and sports commentator. He had been on a cabin trip at the time of his death. The Norwegian Ski Federation said Groenvold was 'quickly taken to hospital and received treatment for the injuries he sustained in the lightning strike' and then died from his injuries. Assessing risk of lightning strikes Canadian statistics suggest somewhere around one in six individuals struck by lightning dies from their injuries. Between 2002 and 2017, there were 180 lighting-related injuries in Canada. On average, two to three individuals die each year from lightning strikes. There used to be a rule about the time between lightning and thunder to determine distance, but that rule has been outmoded by research. 'When you hear thunder, you are in striking distance of lightning,' said Christy Climenhaga of Environment and Climate Change Canada. And even if you can't hear thunder, don't assume you're safe outside. 'Lightning can strike outside of where a thunderstorm is, it can strike 15 kilometers away,' she said. 'It can strike even more so if you can hear thunder, that's when you know that it is time to head inside or into a vehicle to take shelter because you are at risk of lightning. 'When you think about severe thunderstorms or even regular thunderstorms, the main threats you think about are things like hail and strong winds and heavy downpours, which are risks, but lightning is a big risk, and we don't think about it that often, because being injured or hit by lightning is rare, but it does happen.' Lightning strikes aren't as simple as a bolt hitting someone straight on, she added. Lightning can injure with ground current, where lightning strikes a very tall object nearby, and that energy travels outwards from that strike, along the ground surface. With side flashes, lightning strikes a taller object and jumps over to the nearby victim. Livestock have been felled after sheltering up against metal fences. Sporting during thunderstorm is a particularly risky behaviour — hoisting a metal bat or tennis racket could increase risk, Climenhaga said. Going inside or at least getting into a car is a safer bet during a thunderstorm, she said. Prime environment for thunderstorms With a cooler front moving through Thursday, there was a prime environment for thunderstorms across Alberta, said Climenhaga. 'We definitely saw that around the Edmonton area, a very strong storm that moved through between 4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., bringing with it some rain,' Climenhaga said. There were reports of hail and lightning. By midday Friday, most of the risk had moved into southern Alberta, she said. Related Edmonton International Airport damaged by Thursday wind storm Vicious cycle: Wildfire smoke and wind a growing threat in Alberta You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun.
Edmonton Journal
4 days ago
- Climate
- Edmonton Journal
Edmonton resident struck by lightning in Thursday storm saved by paramedics
A west Edmonton resident struck by lightning during a Thursday afternoon storm burst was saved by quick intervention from Emergency Medical Services (EMS) paramedics who happened to be nearby. Article content 'At approximately 4:15 p.m. on July 24, Alberta Health Services EMS received a call for an incident near Callingwood Estates,' said a Friday statement emailed to Postmedia from Community Engagement and Communications for AHS. Article content Article content Article content The individual, transported to hospital in critical condition, had to be resuscitated at the scene, friends of the victim shared on social media. Article content Article content The call came in close to an EMS station, and the response was lightning fast, with first responders arriving in a minute. Article content 'I helped call them in, they were indeed there that quick,' posted one friend of the victim. Article content A poster named Brodi said Edmonton is lucky to have some of the most amazing paramedics around. Article content 'The fact that they do the job in all kinds of weather conditions — some quite dangerous, like thunderstorms, extreme heat, blizzard conditions — just shows some serious determination and dedication to their jobs and to helping others,' Brodi said. Article content Lightning has been in the news recently after Olympic ski cross medalist Audun Groenvold, 49, died after being struck by lightning. Article content Groenvold, who won bronze at the 2010 Vancouver Games, was a coach and sports commentator. He had been on a cabin trip at the time of his death. Article content Article content The Norwegian Ski Federation said Groenvold was 'quickly taken to hospital and received treatment for the injuries he sustained in the lightning strike' and then died from his injuries. Article content Article content Canadian statistics suggest somewhere around one in six individuals struck by lightning dies from their injuries. Article content Between 2002 and 2017, there were 180 lighting-related injuries in Canada. Article content On average, two to three individuals die each year from lightning strikes. Article content There used to be a rule about the time between lightning and thunder to determine distance, but that rule has been outmoded by research. Article content 'When you hear thunder, you are in striking distance of lightning,' said Christy Climenhaga of Environment and Climate Change Canada. Article content And even if you can't hear thunder, don't assume you're safe outside.
