Re: [Paddlewise] Lightning

Martin Doerfler wrote:

> In the discussion of paddles and lightning, one factor has possibly been
> overlooked, the path of the lightning. Lightning causes major injury along
> the path it takes through the body to the ground (or water). If the
> lightning takes a path through the heart you die as the electrical activity
> of the heart is terminated. It also produces an internal injury similar to
> a crush injury along it's path. It may actually be better to have a
> conducting pole from the air, through your hands into the water as opposed
> to through your head into the boat or water. Yes your hands would likely be
> seriously burned but survival might be enhanced. The golfer with an
> umbrella has the current pass into his/her hand and through the body to the
> ground and is seriously injured, a paddler might fair differently. Other
> than the description of mechanism of injury this is purely theoretical (my
> lawyer made me say that).
>
> Martin Doerfler, MD
>

As a man who has been struck twice by lightning, the golfer Lee Trevino
suggests holding a 2 iron straight up in the air, "Because even God can't hit a
2 iron."

Roger

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