THIS DATE IN WEATHER HISTORY

1992: Lightning bolt strikes a high school football player

Episode Details

Lightning is a major cause of storm related deaths in the United States. A lightning strike can result in a cardiac arrest at the time of the injury, although some victims may appear to have a delayed death a few days later if they are resuscitated but have suffered irreversible brain damage. According to the National Weather Service Storm Data, over the last 30 years the U.S. has averaged 43 reported lightning fatalities per year. Only about 10% of people who are struck by lightning are killed, leaving 90% with various degrees of disability. More recently, in the last 10 years, the U.S. has averaged 27 lightning fatalities. On September 19, 1992 a lightning bolt struck a high school football player on the practice field in Silver Springs, Maryland and smashed his football helmet. 40 other players felt the shock. Amazingly no one was seriously injured.

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THIS DATE IN WEATHER HISTORY

1992: Lightning bolt strikes a high school football player

This Date in Weather History

This Date in Weather History Update

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