Storms and lightning much deadlier for men

The National Post ^ | April 29, 2003 | Mary Vallis

[Loyalist]

Men are more than twice as likely as women to die during thunderstorms, mainly because they do not come in from the rain, new research suggests.

A new study of more than 1,400 thunderstorm-related deaths in the United States found 70% of the victims were male. The gender disparity was particularly pronounced among deaths caused by lightning strikes and flash floods.

Close to 80% of the lightning victims were men, said Dr. Thomas Songer of the University of Pittsburgh's Center for Injury Research.

Canadian numbers support the theory. According to Statistics Canada, 34 men died after being struck by lightning between 1994 and 2000, compared to just six women.

Dr. Songer speculated men may be at greater risk of dying during thunderstorms because of their exposure to the elements and their behaviour. Men seem more likely to take risks during storms.

"I would say they make poor decisions," he said. "I've read several reports surrounding the deaths, and there's quite a few situations where people drive around barricades and go through flooded roads, and their car gets picked up and floated down, and they drown."

The gender trend for lightning deaths goes back at least a century in medical literature, said Dr. Mary Ann Cooper, director of the Lightning Injury Research Program at the University of Illinois, who was not involved in the new research.

"Men tend to be optimists. They all think that their team's going to win the pennant and they're never going to be hit by lightning."

For his study, Dr. Songer and his colleague, Dr. Hadi Dowlatabadi, who is now at the University of British Columbia, analyzed 1,442 thunderstorm-related deaths in the U.S. between 1994 and 2000. They obtained records on 928 storms from the National Weather Service, which keeps reports on weather-related fatalities.

The greatest proportion of deaths after lightning strikes involved people who were engaged in sports or recreation activities (36.3%), followed by people who were working (21.8%) and people struck while boating or fishing (15.2%).

Most deaths from flash floods involved victims in cars (65.9%), usually drivers attempting to drive through the water. Men were also more likely to die due to thunderstorm winds and tornados.

Dr. Songer presented the research in Atlanta yesterday during a conference on injuries hosted by the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.

© Copyright 2003 National Post

[Loyalist]

Had this been reported in the Times, the headline would still be 'LIGHTNING STRIKES: WOMEN HARDEST HIT'.

[goldstategop]

MEN AND LIGHTNING ARE NATURE'S PROVERBIAL OIL AND WATER. Film at 11.

[trebb]

Carry your one-iron everywhere you go - even God can't hit a one-iron...

[Flyer]

mainly because they do not come in from the rain

Mama always said I didn't know better.

[error99]

These same researchers are now seeking grant money for their new study about the theory
that women are more likely than men to be burnt by curling irons, and cut by kitchen knives.
I can't hardly wait to see how that study comes out.

[laredo44]

Men are outside more. Simple as that.

[rickmichaels]

Men were also more likely to die due to thunderstorm winds and tornados.

Wife: "Stop watching football and get your ass to the drug store right now!!! I've run out of PMS pills!!! Buy the extra-strength ones...and also get me some super-flow maxis!!!"

Husband: "But it's raining outside and it's very windy, dear."

Wife: "DO I HAVE TO REPEAT MYSELF???"

Husband: "No dear. I'm leaving now. Right away. Whatever you say."

[Feckless]

Our ER Docs tell me that in the case of snakebites, 90% of bites to the upper body are to males. Females almost always get bit on the leg, foot, etc.
I assume it means women don't watch where they are going and men shouldn't.

[ctlpdad]

did you plant a microphone in my house yesterday? - LOL!

[Vaduz]

I thought it was because of my steel plate

[LibKill]

"Stop watching football and get your ass to the drug store right now!!! I've run out of PMS pills!!! Buy the extra-strength ones

They call it PMS because Mad Cow Disease was already taken. :)

Now, please spray my position with this fire-retardant foam while I put on my asbestos suit.

[ThinkingMan]

The actual reason that storms are deadlier for men is that they not only don't come in from the storm, but will actually go out in it to see how bad it really is.

Take for example a typical summer storm with cloud rotation right above my house. I put the wife and kids under the stairs, then proceed to walk out in the front yard and look up. It is amazing how many guys there are in their front yards watching the storm. "Yup, them clouds are spinnin- looks like we might get a tornado!" "Wow- those clouds are a cool shade of green this time!" "That lightning sure is close." etc. Happens 3 or 4 times a year.

[genefromjersey]

Wonder how much this bit of "important research" set the taxpayers back ?

[gridlock]

After the women and children are safe, you just have to go outside to check to make sure everything is battened down, right?

And, man, those swirling clouds sure look cool!

[Tijeras_Slim]

It's a conspiracy.... I'm going to add a bit more tinfoil...

[bmwcyle]

Men can't bleed for a week and not die either.

[Pukka Puck]

Women have enough sense to come in out of the rain.

[Mr. Jeeves]

Men are more than twice as likely as women to die during thunderstorms, mainly because they do not come in from the rain, new research suggests.

Hey, if there's a crucial putt to make, no man is going to walk off the golf course just because of a few little firecrackers going off overhead!

[Interesting Times]

It was once a survival trait.

Must hunt mammoth. Food for family. Ignore storm.

[farmfriend]

Men are more than twice as likely as women to die during thunderstorms, mainly because they do not come in from the rain, new research suggests.

Didn't have to go past this line right here. Hold muh beer...