In the Belokholunitsky district, a pensioner lost her hearing and was burned by lightning.

      A terrible incident occurred in the Belokholunitsky district: an 83-year-old woman was injured during a thunderstorm. She was stunned by the shock wave.

      So, lightning struck a tree trunk not far from the house, as a result, an outlet near the table where the pensioner was sitting was pierced in the house. A splinter from an outlet cut her face. A local resident contacted the Belokholunitskaya CRH with complaints of a state of deafness, a burn on her left cheek and hearing loss. The ambulance crew took her to the hospital as soon as possible.

      As noted by the chief physician of the local Central Hospital, the case surprised even experienced health workers. During the examination, the pensioner was found to have impaired cardiac conduction and sensorineural hearing loss in both ears. She was examined by an ENT doctor, and now the woman is undergoing outpatient treatment. In the future, she will undergo further examination and consultation with a cardiologist.

      The Ministry of Health of the Kirov region reminds that the consequences of a lightning strike and barotrauma, which cause damage to organs and tissues due to a sharp pressure drop in the environment, can be dangerous up to a fatal outcome. Any body tissue containing air or gases can be damaged: the hearing aid, sinuses, lungs. Therefore, it is important to seek medical help in a timely manner and follow the recommendations of doctors.

      If you are in a rural area and a thunderstorm has started, you need to close windows, doors, chimneys and vents, do not heat the stove, talk on the phone or get close to electrical wiring, lightning rods, roof drains, antenna. Also, do not stand near the window, if possible, turn off the TV, radio and other electrical appliances.

      If you find yourself in a forest in stormy weather, take cover in a low—growing area of the forest, near a reservoir — you are not in the water or on the shore, and in no case should you lie down on the ground in the field, squat in a recess of the landscape, hugging your legs with your arms, in a car — do not leave it, close the windows and lower the antenna the radio receiver. Metal objects, such as a motorcycle, bicycle, or scooter, should be put aside and moved 20-30 meters away.