Affiliations: Lightning Data Center, St. Anthony Hospital, 4231 W. 16th Avenue, Denver, CO 80204, USA. Tel.: +1 303 629 4258; Fax: +1 303 629 4438; E-mail: Lightningdatacenter@Centura.org
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Mary Ann Cooper, MD, Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Illinois @Chicago, M/C 724, 471 CME, 808 South Wood St., Chicago, IL 60612-7354, USA. Tel.: +1 312 413 7489; Fax: +1 312 413 0289; E-mail: macooper@uic.edu
Abstract: Prior to1989 no known support group existed for victims of lightning or electrical shock injury and their families. A lightning strike survivor of twenty years, Steve Marshburn, recognized the need both from his personal experience and after meeting two other survivors. With his wife and psychologist, he formed Lightning Strike and Electric Shock Survivors International. The organization has grown nearly one hundredfold from the thirteen who attended the first annual meeting. The support group serves people from around the world, has produced a number of publications, participated in research about these injuries and has become active in prevention activities. This paper will describe some of the factors that have led to such success for the organization.
Keywords: support group, electrical injury, lightning injury, friends, leadership
