The Lightning Data Center

See the LDC 15th Anniversary meeting photos here!

The members are an eclectic group of professionals including physicians, nurses, meteorologists, electrical engineers, forensic engineers, photographers, and others. The members are able to look at lightning-related phenomena from the perspective of physicians, nurses, engineers, climatologists, and others.

Description: The Lightning Data Center (LDC) of St. Anthony Hospital is a unique organization of individuals all interested in the natural lightning phenomena and its effect on humans.  The LDC is particularly interested in the clinical aspects of lightning strike injuries as well as, lightning safety and injury prevention issues. The LDC is dedicated to clinical research. LDC has published many papers on the medical and neurological aspects of lightning strikes.  LDC was formed in 1992, through the efforts of Dr. Michael Cherington. Later Dr. Philip Yarnell, neurologist, and other St. Anthony Medical Staff physicians joined LDC as active members. Recently, Dr. Charles Mains, Chief of Trauma Service and a panel of trauma surgeons have formed an important clinical panel of LDC.

At first, the group numbered 10. In 2006, the LDC corresponding membership numbered 145. Membership in LDC is open to all those with an interest in promoting the understanding of the lightning phenomena in accordance with the Mission of LDC.

LDC also welcomes other organizations with similar interests to establish liaison membership.LDC conducts monthly meetings, currently held each second Friday of the month at 11:30 A.M. (Mountain Time) at St. Anthony Central Hospital in Denver, CO, USA. The meetings are coordinated by the LDC Administrative Committee. Minutes summarizing the meeting's discussions are published and distributed to LDC corresponding members worldwide.

The mission of the LDC is to:

• Analyze the clinical presentations, treatments and prognosis of lightning strike and electrical trauma patients. A clinical panel of Trauma Surgeons and other specialists at St. Anthony Hospital are available to evaluate and treat lightning strike and electrical trauma patients. We have developed a classification of the neurological complications of lightning injuries.
• Gather and study lightning casualty data from Colorado and from various sources including Storm Data, Colorado Hospital Association, Colorado Department of Health, news media reports, and reports sent directly to the center from medical facilities in the state.
• Investigate the claims of underreporting lightning deaths and injuries and its possible consequences in terms of public awareness and policy making at the state and national levels.
• Assist others to obtain and use lightning data sets that are as complete as possible for medical, meteorological, community protection, and planning purposes.
• Analyze lightning incidents that have forensic implications.
• Educate health care workers and the public about the dangers of lightning, more accurate identification of lightning victims, proper immediate medical treatment of lightning victims, and measures to reduce the risks of lightning injury.