[1] Side splash makes up about a third of cases and occurs when lightning strikes nearby and jumps through the air to the person.

[1] Prevention includes avoiding being outdoors during a thunderstorm, and sheltering in a fully enclosed structure (such a closed building or metal car).

[1] Areas with mountainous terrain and moisture-heavy airflow, such as Central Africa, have the highest rates of lightning strikes.

[1] Common injuries caused by lightning include: muscle pains, broken bones, cardiac arrest, confusion, hearing loss, seizures, burns, behavioral changes, and ocular cataracts.

[8] The marks are formed when capillaries beneath the skin rupture due to the electrical discharge and they usually appear "within hours" of the strike though they tend to disappear within a few days.

[3] Signs and symptoms of keraunoparalysis include lack of pulse, pallor or cyanosis, and motor and sensory loss in the extremities.

[1] Lightning injury may occur by these electrical mechanisms or by secondary blunt trauma as a result of the strike.

[2][3] While no place is entirely safe from lightning strikes, it is recommended to seek shelter in a substantial, fully-enclosed building (preferably with electrical attachments and plumbing) or a closed metal vehicle, such as a car.

[3][5][13] If being outdoors is unavoidable, staying away from metal objects (including fencing and power lines), sheets of water (ponds, lakes, etc.

[5] Signs of an impending strike nearby can include a crackling sound, sensations of static electricity in the hair or skin, the standing of hair on end, the pungent smell of ozone, or the appearance of a blue haze around persons or objects (St. Elmo's fire).

[3] Specific tips are available for various situations, such as outdoor recreation, boating and other water activities, and organized sporting events.

[7] It is safe to provide care immediately, as the affected person will not retain an electrical charge after the lightning has struck, contrary to popular belief.

[5] Chances of survival may be increased if cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is started immediately, and continued without interruption until return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC).

Long-term injuries are usually neurological in nature, including memory deficit, mood disturbance, and fatigue.