Vol. 7 (05) pp. 599-604 DOI: 10.21474/IJAR01/9078

THE DISTRIBUTION AND CHARACTERISTICS OF LIGHTNING INJURIES AMONG RESIDENTS IN A RURAL AREA IN SRI LANKA.

, and
  • Registrar in Community Medicine, Disaster Preparedness and Response Division, Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, Colombo 10, Sri Lanka.
  • National Coordinator, Disaster Preparedness and Response Division, Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, Colombo 10, Sri Lanka.
  • Senior Registrar in Community Medicine, Disaster Preparedness and Response Division, Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, Colombo 10, Sri Lanka.
26 Downloads 107 Views
Crossref

Download Full Paper (PDF)

Abstract

Background: Lightning occurs most commonly in the tropical countries, yet due to under-reporting of data, both developed and developing countries didn?t aware the actual problem. Thus, proper reporting and management of the victims related to lighting are crucial. Aim and Objective: To describe the distribution and characteristics of the lightning-related lifetime injuries among residents in a rural area in Sri Lanka Methods: Weconducteda cross-sectional survey among 510 residents in the Medical Officer of Health area, Kiriella. Among them, we selected residents who reported the lightning-related lifetime injuries and interviewed them using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Results: The lightning-related lifetime injuries were 18 (3.6%). Among the victims, 12 (66.7%) were males, and 6 (33.3%) were females. Most (n=13, 72.2%) were 18 to 45 years of age, when injured to lightning. Eight (44.4%) lightning strikes happened during the period from 2004 to 2013, and most of the lightning-related injuries were reported from noon to evening (n=10, 55.6%). The most (n=9, 50.0%) affected body part was the head. Males were 1.34 times increased risk for lightning compared to females (Relative risk 1.34, 95% confidence interval 0.51-3.50). Further, residents of age 18 to 45 years were highly vulnerable to lightning (Relative risk 3.07, 95% confidence interval 1.11-8.49). Conclusions:Lightning-related injuries are more common among younger males in the selected rural area in Sri Lanka. Therefore it is recommended to conduct awareness programmes on preventive measures among at-risk population and to introduce protective measures at residences to mitigate the loss and damage.

Keywords

Article Analytics

References

  1. Ahmad, N.A., Bakar, N.N., Adzis, Z. (2013): Study of Lightning Fatalities in Malaysia from 2004 to 2012. J. Technol. 66(1):9-13.
  2. Aslar, A.K., Soran, A., Yildiz, Y., Isik, Y. (2001): Epidemiology, morbidity, mortality and treatment of lightning injuries in a Turkish burns units. Int. J. Clin Prac.; 55(8):502-4.
  3. Biswas, A., Dalal, K., Hossain, J., Baset, K.U., Rahman F, Mashreky SR. (2016). Lightning Injury is a disaster in Bangladesh?-Exploring its magnitude and public health needs. F1000Research. 5.
  4. Cooper, M.A., Ab Kadir, M.Z. (2010). Lightning injury continues to be a public health threat internationally. Population. 5:00.
  5. Department of Census and Statistics (2016). Sri Lanka Labour Force Quarterly Bulletin. Available from: http://www.statistics.gov.lk/samplesurvey/LFS_Q2_Bulletin_WEB_2017_final.pdf.
  6. Disaster Information and Management System, Sri Lanka (2014). Disaster profile in Sri Lanka. Available from:? desinventar.lk/des_html/disaster_profile/disaster_profile.pdf
  7. Elsom, D.M., Webb, J.D. (2017). Lightning deaths in the UK: a 30-year analysis of the factors contributing to people being struck and killed. Int. Met. 42 (401):8-26.
  8. Forster, S.A., Silva, I.M., Ramos, M.L., Gragnani, A., Ferreira, L.M. (2013). Lightning burn?Review and case report. Burns. 39(2):e8-12.
  9. Gatewood, M.O., Zane, R.D. (2004).Lightning injuries. Emerg. Med. Clin. 22(2):369-403.
  10. Gomes, C., Abeysinghe, K.R., Hussain, F., Ahmed, M. (2006). Lightning accidents and awareness in South Asia: Experience in Sri Lanka and Bangaladesh. In Kanazawa
  11. Gomes, C., Kithil, R., Ahmed, M. (2006). Developing a lightning awareness program model for third world based on American-South Asian experience. In Proceedings of 28th International Conference on Lightning Protection. 5.
  12. Holle, R.L. (2016). The number of documented global lightning fatalities. In preprints, 24th International Lightning Detection Conference and Sixth International Lightning Meteorology Conference., San Diego, CA, Vaisala. pp. 1-4.
  13. Illiyas, F.T., Mohan, K., Mani, S.K., Pradeepkumar, A.P. (2014). Lightning Risk in India. Econ. 49(23):23.
  14. Kalubowila, K.C., Herath, H., Wijesekara N. (2018). Prevention of lightning-related adverse effects: knowledge, attitudes and practices among residents in Kiriella Medical Officer of Health area. J. Coll. Comm. Phy; 1:6.
  15. L?pez, R.E., Holle, R.L. (1998). Changes in the number of lightning deaths in the United States during the twentieth century. J. Climate; 11(8):2070-7.
  16. L?pez, R.E., Holle, R.L., Heitkamp, T.A., Boyson, M., Cherington, M., Langford K. (1993). The underreporting of lightning injuries and deaths in Colorado. B. Am. Meteorol. Soc; 74(11):2171-8.
  17. Ministry of Disaster Management (n.d.). Disaster profile in Sri Lanka. Disaster Event and Impact Profile. Available from:www.desinventar.lk/des_html/disaster_profile/disaster_profile.pdf. Accessed on: October 10, 2018.
  18. Muehlberger, T., Vogt, P.M., Munster, A.M. (2001). The long-term consequences of lightning injuries. Burns; 27(8):829-33.
  19. Pfortmueller, C.A., Yikun, Y., Haberkern, M., Wuest, E., Zimmermann, H., Exadaktylos, A.K. (2012). Injuries, Sequelae, and Treatment of Lightning-Induced Injuries: 10 Years of Experience at a Swiss Trauma Center. Emerg. Med. Int.
  20. Pincus, J.L., Lathrop, S.L., Briones, A.J., Andrews, S.W., Aurelius, M.B. (2015). Lightning Deaths: A Retrospective Review of New Mexico's Cases, 1977?2009. J. Forensic Sci; 60(1):66-71.
  21. Premalal, K.H.M.S., Kumarasinghe, N. (2015). Community Base Vulnerability Mapping for Lightning Strikes in Sri Lanka. SL. J. Met; 1: 72-80.
  22. Price, C., Rind, D. (1994). Possible implications of global climate change on global lightning distributions and frequencies. J. Geophys. Res-Atmos; 99(D5):10823-31.
  23. Selvi, S., Rajapandian, S. (2016). Analysis of lightning hazards in India. Int. J. Disast. Risk Re; 19: 22-4.
  24. Shrigiriwar, M.B., Gadhari, R.K., Jadhao, V.T., Tingne, C.V., Kumar, N.B. (2014). Study of fatalities due to lightning in Nagpur region of Maharashtra. J. Ind. Acad Forensic Med; 36(3):259-62.
  25. United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization-Uganda (2018). Lightning. Available from: http://www.unesco-uganda.ug/ug/dreports/12/.

How to Cite This Article

Kasunee Chamila Kalubowila, Hemantha Herath and Novil Wijesekara. (2019); THE DISTRIBUTION AND CHARACTERISTICS OF LIGHTNING INJURIES AMONG RESIDENTS IN A RURAL AREA IN SRI LANKA., Int. J. of Adv. Res., 7 (05), 599-604, ISSN 2320-5407. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21474/IJAR01/9078

Corresponding Author

K C KALUBOWILA
Registrar in Community Medicine
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.