Lightning?
1 in
281,263
Lifetime odds of dying from Lightning in the US are 1 in 281,263.
Lightning is one of the most powerful and destructive forces in nature. It is also one of the leading causes of weather-related deaths in the United States. An average of 31 people are killed by lightning each year in the U.S., and hundreds
more are seriously injured. While the odds of dying from lightning in any given year are relatively low – about 1 in 19 Million – the odds of being struck in your lifetime are much higher.
The National Lightning Safety Institute estimates that the odds of being struck by lightning in your lifetime are about 1 in 12,000, that increases the odds to die from a lightning strike to 1 in 246,566.
There are a number of factors that can increase your odds of being struck by lightning, including being outdoors in an open area, being in a thunderstorm, being the tallest object in the area, and being in water.
However, the vast majority of lightning strikes occur to people who are not doing anything that would significantly increase their odds of being struck.
In most cases, death from lightning strikes is caused by cardiac arrest or respiratory failure. However, lightning can also cause burns, neurological damage, and other injuries.
If you are outdoors in a thunderstorm, the best thing you can do to protect yourself from lightning is to get inside a building or a car. If you are in an open area, the next best thing you can do is to get low to the ground. crouching down
with your feet together and your hands on your knees is the best position to minimize your risk of being struck. If you are in water, get out immediately. Water is an excellent conductor of electricity and you are at a much higher risk of
being struck if you are in it. If you are indoors, stay away from windows and doors and avoid using electrical appliances. Do not take a shower or use a sink during a thunderstorm.
The bottom line is that lightning is a very real danger and it is important to take steps to protect yourself from it. If you are outdoors in a thunderstorm, the best thing you can do is to get to a safe location as quickly as possible.
And, if you are indoors, stay away from windows and doors and avoid using electrical appliances.
Deaths per year from Lightning in the US and one-year odds of dying
| 2021 |
15 |
1 in 22,135,436 |
| 2020 |
17 |
1 in 19,404,705 |
| 2019 |
30 |
1 in 10,941,333 |
| 2018 |
23 |
1 in 14,203,913 |
| 2017 |
19 |
1 in 17,104,736 |
| 2016 |
36 |
1 in 8,970,555 |
| 2015 |
27 |
1 in 11,875,555 |
| 2014 |
26 |
1 in 12,242,307 |
| 2013 |
25 |
1 in 12,639,600 |
| 2012 |
29 |
1 in 10,821,724 |
| 2011 |
26 |
1 in 11,983,076 |
| 2010 |
29 |
1 in 10,666,206 |
| 2009 |
31 |
1 in 9,895,806 |
| 2008 |
29 |
1 in 10,485,862 |
| 2007 |
47 |
1 in 6,409,148 |
| 2006 |
47 |
1 in 6,348,510 |
| 2005 |
48 |
1 in 6,156,666 |
| 2004 |
48 |
1 in 6,100,208 |
| 2003 |
47 |
1 in 6,172,553 |