E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSJamal Stevens survived being sucked out of his bed by a twister. WCNC-TV's Michelle Boudin reports.
Jamal Stevens, 7, is among the few who can say they survived being picked up and tossed around by a twister -- last Friday he was sucked out of his bed and flung onto a grassy strip along an interstate behind his home. But how could Jamal or anyone survive such an extreme event?
"It is puzzling because one or two people in a place will be killed while others live, and it often seems to be luck," acknowledges Tom Schmidlin, a Kent State University professor who has studied tornado injuries.
Luck does seem to have a lot to do with it, in that one or more factors have to go your way to survive. It can happen, but chances are very, very remote.
"It's a lot like flipping a coin and have it land perfectly on its edge," says Jason Persoff, a University of Colorado doctor and -- on the side -- storm chaser.
A key survival factor seems to be "an oversized object being thrown with the patient" that actually protects him or her from the other debris flying through the air like missiles, says Persoff, who doesn't know of any specific studies but has treated such victims himself and spoken to peers about it.
"A mattress, a tub, a door, or sometimes another person" can offer that protection, he notes, while emphasizing that those same objects can just as easily become debris that kills.
Other factors that might come into play include one's age, a tornado's speed and where one lands.
"The very old and very young seem to be vulnerable," notes Schmidlin. Moreover, a person flung by a twister will likely also have been hit by debris "so surviving probably depends on those elusive factors of what you were hit with and your ability to survive injuries."
Mark Baker, an emergency room doctor at Children's of Alabama hospital in Birmingham, says children might actually have an advantage compared to adults when it comes to their chests and abdomens. "Their skeletons are a little more pliant," he says.
But the danger for children is the head area. Baker's ER group saw 60 children during the city's deadly twister on April 27, 2011 -- and two thirds had serious or critical injuries, most to the head.
Jamal, who doesn't remember anything about the ordeal, felt sore afterward but otherwise checked out OK after landing on a relatively soft grassy area along that interstate in Charlotte, N.C.
Chris Keane / Reuters
Jamal Stevens and his siblings were asleep on the second floor of this home in Charlotte, N.C., when a twister ripped off the top. Jamal was flung the farthest, but two sisters also landed outside the home. All survived with just cuts and bruises.
As for increasing one's chances of surviving a twister, experts at the University of Alabama at Birmingham recently came out with some straightforward advice: Wear a helmet.
The idea was first proposed in the 1960s, researchers at the university's Injury Control Research Center wrote in an online commentary, and anecdotal evidence includes a boy who survived the deadly 2011 Joplin, Mo., tornado because he was wearing a bike helmet when airborne debris hit him in the head.
Acknowledging the idea "never gained popularity," the team said it was time to raise awareness -- and even chastised federal safety tips as "woefully inadequate."
The tornado safety page at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, the team wrote, does encourage people to protect their head "with anything available -- even your hands" but doesn't specify wearing a helmet.
"From a practical perspective," the team added, using one's hands has "major limitations."
For one, hands can't cover all head, face and neck areas, they stated. And second, using your hands and arms for protection means you can't then use them for other emergency tasks -- "such as keeping young children close by and protected."
Dr. Russ Fine, director of the injury research center, says that since the commentary was published Jan. 12, he's "questioned, publicly and privately, why they have not changed their web-based Emergency Preparedness recommendations to include helmets."
"I'm embarrassed that the nation's prevention agency hasn't modified its recommendations," he adds.
Msnbc.com forwarded the commentary to the CDC and a spokesperson was reviewing it for a response.
Baker, the ER doctor, agrees that helmets, especially with straps, and infant carriers for the youngest should be part of preparing for a tornado.
Children's of Alabama is also informally starting to get the word out, says spokeswoman Kathy Bowers. Efforts include a public service announcement on local TV with a meteorologist who touts the value of having helmets handy.
Fine senses that the helmet idea is slowly getting some traction. He went to a sporting goods store to buy bike helmets for two grandchildren during Birmingham's last bout of bad weather and the clerk realized it was for the storm, not exercise. "She also said she didn't own a helmet but that she and every other clerk" borrowed them from the shelves when bad weather hit, he says.
Fine himself has a helmet at home, as does his wife. "We have helmets in our safe room," he says. "We have our drill, we know what we're planning to do."
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News
Leave a Comment:
wear a helmet....it really is a GREAT idea. Why the hell wouldnt the govt promote that???
lol Governments are stupid.
I'm adding it to my list.
..
It is worth noting that this young man was thrown from his 2nd floor bedroom. Had the family properly identified that they were under imminent threat of a tornado, they could have gotten to a lower, safer spot, and this never would have happened, helmets or not.
Ray, I read last week that they were in the process of getting all of the four siblings downstairs. The warning came when they were all sleeping, the mother already had gotten the two youngest downstairs with their grandmother, and she was in the process of waking and getting this boy and the fourth sibling when the tornado struck. Additionally, when the made it to their safe place, the bathroom, they opened the door to nothing. Had they gotten there earlier, they would've all been thrown about the highway. You might want to cut them some slack.
@Ray Butt - thanks Captain Hindsight!
Your journal must read this every night: "Wow, what I great day today..I made some really dumb witty comments, and have no idea what I'm talking about." :-)
People survive being tossed by twisters because it was not their time to go.
Actually, Tina. People survive twisters in the same way people survive anything. Luck and possibly skill. Has nothing to do with whether or not it was their "time to go".
Well, apparently it does, or they wouldn't still be alive, would they?
Someone last week suggested getting a cheap helmet, he sure called that one. I also think the amount of rain that falls might help soften the ground if they were fortunate to land in farm ground that may have been tilled. I have been close enough to a twister and flat line winds where an amazing amount of rain fell in a very short time.
stonepipe,
Why, specifically, a "cheap helmet". That implies that he doesn't feel your head is worth much, doesn't it?
actually he was getting one for himself. you hurt my feelings. oh, I almost forgot. Blow me.
now, now, dont be a potty mouth.
Good advice. Should a tornado come my way, my kids and I will be adding this step before heading to the storm shelter in the basement. Glad we already have them, (but will need to inform my husband of this recommendation, as he doesn't have one.)
Hmmmmmm... my wife keeps hiding my helmet. Do you think she is telling me something?
@stonepipe, lol lol that's funny.
Sounds like a great excuse to buy that Harley he always wanted!
RE: the Tornadoes.
Some live to tell about the Tornadoes, and how they survived, because they were just plain lucky.
This is a news article?----Some live, some die. It is the Force of Natural Disasters. Clueless.
Is it because they are the "Chosen"; G-d and faith, or other factors that saved their lives. We'll never know.
Check the helmet you are wearing--some offer more protection than others. I used to pop my daughter's riding (for horses) helmet on her in bad weather. It offered more protection than her bike helmet. I imagine a motorcycle helmet might be best--but most little children are killed by head injuries, so this does make sense.
I won't be putting my family's snowmobile helmets away come spring. But when your name is called and it is your time SEE YAH. I guess I would be more afraid of getting my neck broke and then living.
A helmet, goggles, knee and elbow pads, and all the heavy quilts and blankets you have. If you're gonna be inside a house or basement be sure you have and can access Axes, Hatchets, Hand saws, etc., and a fire extinguisher.
What I don't get is, why people who live in tornado prone areas don't have basements under their homes!!! It's not like there's a big threat of low sea level in OK, MO, TN or AL! I've never lived in a house without a basement, and until my teen years wasn't aware houses were build without basements! But in leiu of a basement, a helmet's not a bad idea. I believe the reference to a "cheap" one is simply for affordability. The motorcycle helmet I have cost $300. The helmets my kids have were all $100 or more. Bicycle helmets can save lives (as was proven in that one tornado a while ago) and can be purchased for less than $20 - pretty much everyone can afford that for the sake of safety!
Well, NorthernRed, I'm in Texas - west of Houston and a fair bit from the Gulf, but the water table is supposedly just too high to put in basements here. We still have tornados. It freaks me out to no end when there is a tornado warning because I desperately want to hide in the basement and there just aren't any anywhere.
We almost moved to the Dallas-Ft. Worth area and the real estate folks there told me that they don't have basements in that area because the bedrock is too close to the surface so they can't dig basements. I asked about explosives and they just laughed.
I wouldn't "add this step before heading to the storm shelter". I would make sure I had helmets in the storm shelter. You don't want to add another step when there is so little time as it is!
I am so happy not to live in a tornado prone area.
Well I would say that would be a great idea, at least we would know that we tried every safety tip it was to protect the lives of our families and our self.
I am going to get me a bike helmet, and I will be buying a extra one, someone else may be in need of one.
simple obvious idea! Why did I not think of this? And why is the Government not promoting this cheap effective way to help protect potential victims, righhhhhhhhhht go back to my first three words!
Why do we need the government to tell us something this obvious? I have done this for years--in fact, I put a helmet on my daughter's head when we hid from the May 3 tornado, years ago. Local meterologists have encouraged it. If "the government" doesn't promote it, it is probably because they don't want to give people a false sense of security. A helmet is nice--but an underground storm shelter is far, far better. Still, in a pinch, when all you have is a closet to hide in--a helmet might help--though probably not a lot. It might save your life, at best, but won't protect one from other injuries that will hurt really bad and might ultimately kill you anyway.
But, again, why do we need "the government's" endorsement? I've been told "cover your head" for years--it doesn't take a genius to figure out that helmets cover one's head.
Why do we need the government to tell us something this obvious?
There's too much in this world that each person cant possibly know all the right things to do in every single scenario, especially when those scenario's rarely play out where they live...
that, to me seems INCREDIBLY OBVIOUS that im surprised you didnt think of it yourself.
I dont see any downside to the govt adding "wear helmets during high winds/tornado's/ect" to the list.
It might not reach everyone it needs to, but I guarantee it'll reach some people who never thought of it and will be greatful the govt suggested it.
it's odd that this reality bothers you. better safe than sorry is my motto...and giving people as much info as possible, falls on the better safe side - rather than the sorry side.
Who knew the helmet makers would ever have lobbyists. :)
I think I'll just wear my "bomb squad" suit.
In the summer time a lot of communities will have a bike safety day where the police or fire department gives out free helmuts to kids. If you cant afford one ask them they might be able to help. Of course a helmut will only work if your WEARING it...
We have two motorcycle helmets in the house and it never occurred to me to put one on during a tornado warning before this article. Thanks! Here's a tip for people... when there's a bad weather such as an ice storm or high wind warning, fill your washing machines up with fresh water to use in case of a power outtage, also the guest bath tub. The lid on the washing machine helps keep dust out of the water for drinking, and the guest tub water can be used for other necessities. Of course bottled water on hand is always best, but in a pinch, this is a fast way to prepare. And we all know that it won't help much if your house is actually hit by a tornado, but if not, you'll have a fresh water stash for a few days.
When you're taking cover in a tornado warning it's a good idea to take whistles with you.Then if you get trapped under a collapsed building you can get rescuers' attention without having to constantly yell.
When you go into your shelter wear hiking boots, so that after the storm if there is broken glass and pieces of lumber with nails sticking out everywhere you won't be trying to get around in a pair of flimsy little shoes.
Take your medication,glasses, contact lens equipment.
Take your purse or your wallet.
Take at least one flashlight.
If you've got a baby take a stack of diapers.
If you've got a baby strap them in their carrier when you go into the shelter.
When it starts to look like there is a good chance of a tornado warning being issued in the next few minutes, if you've got pets go ahead and put them in a carrier and put them in the shelter.It won't hurt them to sit there a few minutes.Otherwise when the warning is issued and they hear the sirens and the storm they're going to freak and you'll have to try to catch them.
When you go into the shelter call someone who is dependable and tell them where you're taking cover so if people have to look for you later they'll know where to look.
Take your phone with you into the shelter because there's always a chance you can still get a signal if you're buried in your shelter after the storm.
If you live in a tornado prone area you might want to think about already having your important documents, pictures, ect. in the shelter as soon as you know that there's even a chance of dangerous weather in the next few days.
These are great ideas. If you're lucky enough to have a storm shelter, you should probably prepare it every year before bad weather starts, or keep it stocked.
I used to have a fire kit ready when I lived in California. It was a little bag with extra clothes, shoes and necessities that I kept in an easy-to access place. If there were fire warnings anywhere or conditions were ripe, I stuck my medications and wallet in there as well. With all the tornadoes lately (and some having hit pretty close to where I live now, in Missouri), I might go ahead and make a tornado kit.
kc - good rational sane advice - the article gives a great overview as to why a small percentage of people survive such events - makes sense - where are and lets see the lunatics come forward and proclaim its a gods hand at work - they give clear concise info of how this happens as well as direction and what procautions to take to protect yourself - and praying was not one of them
Right.Just like in a car crash, people who get ejected and thrown don't usually fare very well.People in a tornado, where they're going to get thrown further than they would from a car crash, and where there will be huge objects sailing past at 200 mph have an even lower chance of survival.When somebody does make it it's just the way the cards fell:They happened to not get hit hard in any vital organs, rescuers got there in a hurry,other objects protected them as stated in the article, they didn't fall very far or land on their head,or as someone else already said,maybe they had a soft landing.
In my list of suggestions I should have mentioned that when there's a chance of violent weather in the area in the next few days, people who have natural gas in their homes should make sure that they know how to turn it off.Then if they really do have to go into their shelter during a tornado warning they should also take the tools to turn off the natural gas in case it's escaping from a leak after the storm.When they come out of the shelter people should remember to not light anything with a match or cigarette lighter, because there probably are broken natural gas pipes in the area if there is a lot of structural damage.
Great idea. I will store our ski helmets in the safe room from now on.
I have been keeping a cheap motorcycle helmet with face shield in my house ever since 1986 when I experienced a tornado and lived to tell about it. I have been advising everyone to do the same.
While wearing a helmet is a great. How much protection does it offer when you're hit in the chest by a brick that's traveling at 175 m.p.h?
Well not only that if caught in one there is a chance you will be tworn apart. Also you can die days later from infection becaus of dirt and other material being injected under your skin, but I would never advise against a helmet.
It's all great advice, but I am curious. If you are in the tornado, travelling around at speed, and all the other debris is travelling the same speed, how can a brick hit you that hard, if you are travelling at nearly the same speed (difference in speed would only be caused by object mass). It's like in an auto accident. A car at 50, is hit head on by a car at 65. The impact is 115 mph. If a car at 35, is rearended by a car at 45, it's only a 10 mph impact.
Your corpse will look good for the funeral. You're nitpicking. Take all safety measures to avoid injury, then know you've done the best you can do to survive. Or move elsewhere. Here in Florida we have hurricanes. In California there are firestorms and earthquakes.
There are no guarantees in life. We none of us get out alive.
Joe - think of it like merging onto the highway. If the brick coming at you was already going 200mph on the highway and you tried to enter the highway from a dead stop at the end of the ramp, you wouldn't be going anywhere near the speed of the oncoming brick when it struck you.
My great aunt, great uncle, and my great aunt's mother were picked up by a tornado in the mid-1970's. He was deposited under the front porch with a nail in and board on his leg. My great aunt woke up in the middle of the night wandering around in the field and she could not figure out how she got there. Her mother woke up in the basement. They were all in their beds. The ladies were both unharmed (set down gently). He had to have the nail/board removed and had a permanent infection that seeped and had to be redressed coming from his leg. That was a bad tornado...they lived further down the road that my MIL/FIL who lost their barn in that tornado. My thoughts go out to all tornado victims.
Wear a football suit and pads. Again it all comes down to luck if you hope to survive. Take all the precautions then have a truck land on you.
This>>A key survival factor seems to be "an oversized object being thrown with the patient" that actually protects him or her from the other debris flying through the air like missiles<<
The helmet will do nothing for you...Its like driving a car over a 100 foot drop cliff..Those seats belts would not save you and neither will that helmet with debris that fly like a missiles..
wish they call in the troops and everyone gets help to build their new and improved storm shelter ..maybe the red cross can aid the project . could save a lot of lives in the future..could have one centrally located in the mobile home park because this will happen again ...any one else have any other ideas? what a horrible painful way to go!!!
Mobile home parks are tornado magnets it seems. They should be required to have storm shelters.
So you spent your time and effort to write a story that basically says what we all know...IT'S LUCK!
What do you want to call it? Luck? God looking down on you and protecting you? Quantum physics that can't be explained?
If you get tossed that far, with winds going up to 175 miles an hour, it can be a factor of things...not one given reason..the way you landed, the distance you traveled, the way your body can sustain a hit...a number of factors.
But why anyone survives it...will be a mystery for a long long time...
Sounds like a good idea to me. No wonder government never thought of it. I'm in the market for a helmet. And here in New Mexico where I live we seldom see tornados, but the wind is really going at it today. Think I'll head out for Walmart.
Did I miss something... "Msnbc.com forwarded the commentary to the CDC and a spokesperson was reviewing it for a response."
When did a tornado become a disease???