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Assessment of lightning-related fatality and injury risk in Canada

Natural Hazards volume 47, pages 157–183 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

This article summarizes research completed to assess the risk of lightning-related injuries and fatalities in Canada. Although lightning mortality has declined significantly over the past century, it remains a common meteorological hazard that regularly kills and injures. Based on an analysis of media reports, vital statistics, hospital admission and emergency room visit records, and fire loss data, the authors estimate that on average about 9–10 lightning-related deaths and 92–164 injuries occur each year in Canada. The distribution of casualties reflects current provincial population and cloud-to-ground lightning densities. Consistent with similar studies in other developed nations, most lightning-related fatalities and injuries in Canada occur during the June-August summer season, coincident with peak lightning, and during the Thursday-Saturday period, most likely related to higher rates of participation in outdoor activities. The majority of victims are male, less than 46 years old, and engaged in outdoor recreational activities when injured or killed in a lightning incident. Media reports used in the study were found to underestimate both lightning mortality (36%) and morbidity (20–600%).

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Notes

  1. The terms injuries and morbidity are used interchangeably throughout the paper. The term casualties refers to the sum of injuries and fatalities.

  2. Lightning is also associated with other phenomena where these same forces occur, including volcanic eruptions and large forest fires.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the following people for contributing data or reviewing elements of this research: Philippa Gourley Canadian Council of Fire Marshals and Fire Commissioners, Ron Holle Vaisala Inc., Leona Hollingsworth Canadian Institute for Health Information, Abdel Maarouf Environment Canada, Scott McFarlane University of Waterloo, and David Phillips Environment Canada. Constructive comments from the anonymous reviewers are also greatly appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Adaptation & Impacts Research Division, Atmospheric Science & Technology Directorate, Environment Canada, c/o Faculty of Environmental Studies, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, Canada, N2L 3G1

    Brian Mills, Dan Unrau & Laurel Pentelow

  2. Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, Canada, N2L 3G1

    Carla Parkinson

  3. Faculty of Environmental Studies, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, Canada, N2L 3G1

    Brenda Jones

  4. National Research Corporation, Markham, ON, Canada

    Jennifer Yessis

  5. Environment Canada, Canadian Lightning Detection Network, Richmond, BC, Canada

    Kelsey Spring

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  1. Brian Mills
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  2. Dan Unrau
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Correspondence to Brian Mills.

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Mills, B., Unrau, D., Parkinson, C. et al. Assessment of lightning-related fatality and injury risk in Canada. Nat Hazards 47, 157–183 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-007-9204-4

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Keywords

  • Lightning
  • Injury
  • Death
  • Casualty
  • Thunderstorm
  • Canada

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