Blumenthal, RyanWest, Nicholas J.2015-06-222015-06-222015-03Blumenthal R & West NJ 2015, 'Investigating the risk of lightning’s pressure blast wave', South African Journal of Science, vol. 111, no. 3/4, art. #2014-0187, pp. 1-5. http://dx.DOI.org/ 10.17159/sajs.2015/201401870038-2353 (print)1996-7489 (online)10.17159/sajs.2015/20140187http://hdl.handle.net/2263/45650We investigated the pathology of human trauma associated with lightning’s pressure blast wave. Within what range is a human at risk and what are the risks? Two theories for the trauma currently exist: the flash moisture vaporisation theory and the sixth mechanism theory. We performed a simple proof-of-concept experiment in a high-voltage laboratory to determine which theory makes for better predictions. The experiment confirmed the existence of a non-discriminant pressure blast wave around a spark in air. The lightning data were compared with the known medical data. Findings may now help explain some of the more curious lightning injury patterns seen on lightning-strike victims.en© 2015. The Author(s). Published under a Creative Commons Attribution Licence.LightningFlash moisture vaporisation theorySixth mechanism theoryBarotraumaKeraunomedicineKeraunopathologyPressure blast waveRisk assessmentEnvironmental hazardsBlast wave effectsNatural disastersHealth sciences articles SDG-03SDG-03: Good health and well-beingHealth sciences articles SDG-11SDG-11: Sustainable cities and communitiesArticle