Thunder and Lightning!
- by Perceval
- 2011-05-20 09:05:30
- Surgery & Recovery
- 2203 views
- 5 comments
Hi
As a new pacemaker individual I was wondering if thunder and lightning affects our pacemakers. Probably a ridiculous question but I don't want to take any risks ;-)
Sylvia
5 Comments
Patch
by Tracey_E - 2011-05-20 01:05:58
I thought we were using discretion and not talking about that here.
Definitely not thunder
by Edouard - 2011-05-20 10:05:12
Hi Sylvia
Just to get my facts straight, I looked up the definition of thunder on Wikipedia. It is "the sudden increase in pressure and temperature from lightning produces rapid expansion of the air surrounding and within a bolt of lightning". So thunder by itself does not produce any electro magnetic force which could affect the pacemaker.
I am not a scientist or engineer, but if a pacemaker can resist most forms of electrical interference, I doubt that it would be affected by lightning, unless the wearer is struck directly by a bolt of lightning, in which case, there are issues other than the pacemaker to worry about ;-)
Edouard
nope
by Tracey_E - 2011-05-20 12:05:22
it's fine! I've been near some very close strong strikes and the hair on my arms stood up and I felt funny for a second but I don't know if it's because of the pm or just how close we were. My kids didn't feel it either time so it could have been me, but it was only a second and I felt fine again.
i can relax
by Britt135 - 2011-05-26 04:05:36
I have always wondered the same thing. I used to keep our daughter inside when my husband wanted her to be outside to see the lightening. Now I will be able to calm down and let her watch the show. LOL
You know you're wired when...
You make store alarms beep.
Member Quotes
The experience of having a couple of lengths of wire fed into your heart muscle and an electronic 'box' tucked under the skin is not an insignificant event, but you will survive.
Direct Hit not advised
by COBradyBunch - 2011-05-20 01:05:21
But other than that... haven't ever heard of a problem. I found out just how sturdy they are when I got hit by an SUV cycling home from work last summer. The rest of me didn't do that great, but the pacer took a licking and kept on ticking.