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Case Report: Mass Casualty Lightning Strike at Ranger Training Camp
Shannon N Thompson1, Zachary W Wilson2, Christopher B Cole3
1School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20810.
Military Medicine
|November 1, 2017
Summary
Military personnel injured by lightning strikes can return to duty with proper medical management. This case report details the rapid recovery and return to duty of 44 individuals after a significant lightning event during training.
Area of Science:
- Emergency Medicine
- Environmental Health
- Military Medicine
Background:
- Lightning strikes pose a risk to military operations in diverse weather conditions.
- Effective medical management is crucial for the recovery and return to duty of lightning-injured personnel.
Observation:
- 44 participants in a Ranger School training exercise were injured by a lightning strike.
- Patients received field triage and transport to Eglin Air Force Base emergency department.
- 20 patients were admitted, including one with cardiac arrest and others for observation of rhabdomyolysis, arrhythmias, and acute kidney injury.
Findings:
- All 44 lightning-injured individuals were returned to duty the day following the incident.
- Intensive care unit patients and those admitted for observation were released without restrictions.
- No long-term adverse effects were reported immediately following the event.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of prompt triage, recognition, and coordinated care for lightning strike injuries.
- Emphasizes the need for clear protocols to differentiate lightning injury from training-related symptoms.
- Suggests reviewing and potentially modifying standard operating procedures to mitigate lightning risks during military training exercises.
