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Ricardo Cabeza
climber
Meyers,CA
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jun 22, 2008 - 12:43am PT
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I just wrote a comprehensive description of Amye and myself almost getting our dumbass selves killed by lightning.
Unfortunately, my post didn't load. I haven't the energy to re-write the story tonight, but stay tuned, ST'ers, for the full TR. Fun stuff with pictures. Nature happens.
Cheers,
Brandon-
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Ricardo Cabeza
climber
Meyers,CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 22, 2008 - 12:56am PT
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Thanks Jody. Woulda, coulda, shoulda.
Scary Shizzness happened today. After some safe and easy sport climbing tomorrow I promise to post a full report. With pictures.
Love Y'all,
Brandon
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Ricardo Cabeza
climber
Meyers,CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 22, 2008 - 01:05am PT
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(Now hiding under the coffee table with the dogs)
Having your rack start humming=scary!
Peace and Love,
Brandon-
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Jingy
Social climber
Flatland, Ca
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Jun 22, 2008 - 01:06am PT
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Ricardo - You mean "I was almost struck by lightening!!!"
"I just was almost electrocuted" says to me that there was a open source of electricity (an arcing power line, an extension cord with a missing piece of sheath, you fell while carrying a fork and happened to stab the wall right next to a power outlet, etc.) that you almost came in contact with.... a moment ago (just).
Almost being struck by lightening, is a much different scene.
Glad you made it!
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
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Jun 22, 2008 - 01:07am PT
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RC,
Don't know you, but from your thread I can only say I am so VERY glad you are still sharing a space with us all on this planet.
Looking for your thread manana. Lynne ...Peace and Joy.
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Ricardo Cabeza
climber
Meyers,CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 22, 2008 - 01:14am PT
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Jingy,
Yeah yeah, semantics. Forgive me, as I went to the bar post-haste.
Thanks for the well wishes all, just a scary moment I guess...
Love For All,
Brandon-
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couchmaster
climber
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Jun 22, 2008 - 01:16am PT
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I did myself with a 10' aluminum extension on a powerwasher, when the blasting water made contact with the 220V service entering the house, the electricity made me jerk back, thus directly connecting me to the electricity via the water coursing around me and into the ground (jaws and hands both clamped down).
This went on until I collapsed and the connection was physically broken. Felt like about an hour, I suspect it was less than 15 seconds. During the time I tried to yell (OK, perhaps scream better describes it) but as my jaws were clamped shut, I was unsuccessful. Best workout I've ever had, all my muscles (including ones you don't normally work, like your jaw and tongue) were sore for days.
Thats an electrocution.
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Mtnmun
Trad climber
Top of the Mountain Mun
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Jun 22, 2008 - 01:21am PT
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In 1989 when building my house I was prying forms off of the foundation under the existing house when my crow bar came in contact with some old knob and tube wiring. I could not yell or move, and it took all my will power to let go.
My heart hurt for days.
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Ricardo Cabeza
climber
Meyers,CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 22, 2008 - 01:25am PT
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Couch,
Yikes, I've been hit by 110 thru water and 220 real quickly.
Hope the jolt was ok, no major injuries incurred.
Life is Love,
Brandon-
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philo
Trad climber
boulder, co.
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Jun 22, 2008 - 01:31am PT
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Though the physiological effects are very different between being struck by lightning or shocked by electricity both experiences can be described as electrocution. Having been fortunate to survive both types of experiences I would have to say being struck by lightning is far worse. Electrical shock passes through your body in the shortest path to ground. Lightning courses through your entire body as a global pulse.
The prior does damage along the path to ground. The later damages your entire nervous system.
So very glad you are still here to talk about it. I will be interested to hear your report.
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Ricardo Cabeza
climber
Meyers,CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 22, 2008 - 01:39am PT
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Just to get it straight, I WAS NOT struck today, I heard my gear humming while on the summit and felt a mild electrical buzz. Needless to say, we descended as fast as possible(hail slowed us down considerably)
A TR will follow, I'm too tired right now.
If anyone else has had similar things occur, lets hear 'em.
Thankful,
Brandon-
PS- Philo, You've had a direct hit? Do tell...
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Jun 22, 2008 - 06:50am PT
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hey there ricardo.. and all... say, ricardo.. glad to hear you had "a warning" ... at least.. and got out of range...
say you all... back when i was married to an electrition, and well, even before, as being a housewife, you see and hear tales... and you look out for your kids.... electricity of from any source is a really wild power....
happy to hear that you all are well after some bad jolts....
sharing's good too, as you'd be surprised how many folks have no clue how to take care OUTDOORS, or even around the home....
also, some of you may have seen or heard this---there was a gal once that some very bad times with lightning issues... she finally move to get "away from it all"----turns out, she still have trouble...
the only other thing i heard as to others and their success stories, after some bad shocks... was---a ranger somewhere... had bit hit many times during his life time, and lived to tell about it....
take care, all.... (remember, golf and fishing poles, can be huge 'no no's )
also---looking forward, too, to hearing your tale, there, ricardo... once again, glad you well...
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originalpmac
Trad climber
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Jun 22, 2008 - 04:24pm PT
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yeah, that shite is freaking freaky. I once heard my ice axe on my back pack start humming while on the NE ridge of Bugaboo Spire, actually on the Kain Route while descending. Scary stuff. got buzzed three time indirectly through the rock, with no where to go. no delay between lightning, thunder and the jolts in my body. On the plus side, I had a surreal experience contemplating life and death, but mainly death.
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SammyLee2
Trad climber
Memphis, TN
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Jun 22, 2008 - 06:43pm PT
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Back in the 70's I saw an electrician on a Navy ship, in my engine room, get knocked across the lower level. Scared the crap outa me. He survived and seemed unafected. Not me.
Later, I was fishing on the Cooper River in Charleston when a storm came up fast as lighting, no pun intended. In my boat, it stuck the surface about a hundred yards away. I thought I was dead. I ran the boat to the shore, tied it up and ran into the woods. I swear to anything, the trees there were two hundred feet tall. Flash! Bang! All around me. I felt like crying. I tried to make peace with dying. Needless to say, that didn't happen.
To this day, lightning scares me more than death itself. I'll run in the house at the first sign. Yet, I'm going to RMNP this late summer. Yikes. I'm gonna be down by noon.
Fix my own house wiring? Yeah, right. I'll pick up a M16, a chain saw, explosive materials, pet Pit Bulls, but no damn electrical crap AT ALL. Strange stuff, that is.
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divad
Trad climber
wmass
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Jun 22, 2008 - 07:50pm PT
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Years ago I was mowing my lawn with a storm a brewing. As the rain started, I decided to continue on until a loud boom nearby sent me scrambling into the house. The TV was on and with no remote at the time, I went to turn it off, but instead I started to surf the channels. There was a loud BOOM, my knees buckled and I was knocked on my ass simultaneously. Seems like it struck a pole nearby and traveled through the cable. I live on a cul-de-sac and all the neighbors' TVs were nuked except mine. I guess I saved mine by personally grounding it. One house had the vinyl siding melt around where the cable connected.
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Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
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Jun 22, 2008 - 07:59pm PT
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Lightning hit a pine tree 20 feet outside our bedroom one night as we slept. Got no shock but the boom felt almost fatal. Next morning we found a spiral burn mark down the pine.
I've gone through that buzzing-metal-on-the-summit thing a few times, that's way scary too. Only been shocked by a near miss once.
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Lost Arrow
Trad climber
The North Ridge of the San Fernando
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Jun 22, 2008 - 08:08pm PT
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Up on Daff Dome I took a direct hit and was thrown 50 feet.
Burned all the hair off my head, other than that no lasting damage.
Juan
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Jun 22, 2008 - 10:12pm PT
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hey there all... say, i found the name of the park ranger that was HIT SEVEN different times, and each time lived to share about it (bryce canyon,utah park):
THIS LINK HAS A 30 - 30 RULE (for safety):
http://www.nps.gov/brca/forkids/lightningsafety.htm
SADLY, HE KILLED HIMSELF, IN HIS 70'S (a love-sorrow issue)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Sullivan
HERE IS HIS PICTURE, THOUGH:
http://www.spock.com/Roy-Sullivan
NOW:
FOR THOSE OF YOU that have BEEN actually hit, here is some intereseting INFO... say, check yourself out:
People struck by lightning suffer from a variety of long-term, debilitating symptoms, including memory loss, attention deficits, sleep disorders, numbness, dizziness, stiffness in joints, irritability, fatigue, weakness, muscle spasms, depression, and an inability to sit for long.
HERE IS GOOD LINK, and has a MAP:
http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/
another link, with a few more links:
http://www.accesskansas.org/ksadjutantgeneral/Disaster-Emergency/Lightning%20Safety/Lightning%20Safety.htm
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Jun 22, 2008 - 10:42pm PT
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hey there say.... i just saw that the one link has a list of surviors that have shared their after affects to help others:
http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/survivors.htm
if you do know folks that have been hit, this is very good information for you, IT IS LISTED UNDER (i did not copy or post those, just this general info):
Survivor Stories
Lightning Strike and Electric Shock Survivors, International, (LSESSI) is a support group for survivors of lightning and electrical injury, their friends and families. The group provides information and support to survivors, their families and their physicians about the consequences of the injury and how to deal with it. They also have written materials. You can email the group at lightnin@nternet.net; phone 910-346-4708.
Name Location/Activity When Struck/ Medical Impacts, SHOWN.
For more information on lightning survivors, contact LSESSI above or Dr. Mary Ann Cooper. If you have a lightning survivor story you'd like to share, please email us
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