With the prevailing dry weather conditions and the school vacation season, kite flying has become a popular hobby among children.
However, due to a rise in accidents related to this activity, the Acting Director of the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, Specialist Dr. Pradeep Ratnasekera, has issued a special notice urging the public to pay close attention to safety measures when flying kites.
While kite flying is an entertaining activity, the notice points out that doing so carelessly and without proper safety precautions can expose children and other individuals to serious risks and, in some cases, life-threatening situations. The statement highlights that serious accidents can occur due to collisions and falls while flying kites in groups, as well as falls from elevated areas when attempting to launch them.
A particularly dangerous hazard noted is when kite strings become entangled in high-voltage power lines. This can cause electric currents to transmit through the string to the person, leading to severe burn injuries and hospitalizations. Surgical specialists have reported that such electrical burns can severely damage body tissues, blood vessels, and nerves in the arms, forearms, and sometimes the chest area, often requiring surgical removal of damaged parts when full recovery is impossible. Additionally, the transmission of electricity from conductive strings touching high-voltage lines can result in instant fatalities.
Consequently, parents and adults are strongly advised to keep children away from kite flying in areas with high-voltage power lines and to constantly monitor their safety. Emphasizing that children's entertainment and their safety are equally important, the Director stresses that parents, adults, and society as a whole must act with responsibility and awareness to prevent such dangerous accidents.
