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An updated assessment of lightning-related fatality and injury risk in Canada: 2002–2017

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  • Brian Mills

    (Environment and Climate Change Canada
    University of Waterloo)

Abstract

Cloud-to-ground lightning is a common and dangerous natural atmospheric hazard in southern Canada. Previous research conducted by the author and colleagues, using data from 1994 to 2003, estimated that lightning directly or indirectly kills 9–10 people and injures 92–164 more each year in Canada. Repeating the analysis using data from the same government agency and media sources for the 2002–2017 period, the author found that lightning-related mortality decreased to 2–3 deaths per year, roughly 0.08 deaths per million population. An average of 180 lightning-related injuries each year (5.3 per million population) was estimated for the same period, slightly greater than the maximum documented in the 1994–2003 analysis. About half of the drop in mortality between periods may be attributed to the reduction in reported deaths associated with lightning-ignited municipal fires since 2000. The remainder may be due to a combination of greater availability and use of communication technology, faster emergency response and medical treatment, and increased public awareness of lightning hazards and safety. Further research is required to explain why lightning-related injury rates have remained stable; better understand the interaction of technological, behavioral and other factors; and to determine the efficacy of past and potential future safety interventions.

Suggested Citation

  • Brian Mills, 2020. "An updated assessment of lightning-related fatality and injury risk in Canada: 2002–2017," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 102(3), pages 997-1009, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:nathaz:v:102:y:2020:i:3:d:10.1007_s11069-020-03942-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s11069-020-03942-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Brian Mills & Dan Unrau & Carla Parkinson & Brenda Jones & Jennifer Yessis & Kelsey Spring & Laurel Pentelow, 2008. "Assessment of lightning-related fatality and injury risk in Canada," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 47(2), pages 157-183, November.
    2. Wenjuan Zhang & Qing Meng & Ming Ma & Yijun Zhang, 2011. "Lightning casualties and damages in China from 1997 to 2009," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 57(2), pages 465-476, May.
    3. William Roeder & Benjamin Cummins & Kenneth Cummins & Ronald Holle & Walker Ashley, 2015. "Lightning fatality risk map of the contiguous United States," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 79(3), pages 1681-1692, December.
    4. Jiri Zuzanek, 2017. "What Happened to the Society of Leisure? Of the Gap Between the “Haves” and “Have Nots” (Canadian Time Use and Well-Being Trends)," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 130(1), pages 27-38, January.
    5. Brian Mills & Dan Unrau & Laurel Pentelow & Kelsey Spring, 2010. "Assessment of lightning-related damage and disruption in Canada," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 52(2), pages 481-499, February.
    6. Estelle Trengove & Ian Jandrell, 2015. "Lightning myths in southern Africa," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 77(1), pages 101-110, May.
    7. Norberto Navarrete-Aldana & Mary Cooper & Ronald Holle, 2014. "Lightning fatalities in Colombia from 2000 to 2009," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 74(3), pages 1349-1362, December.
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