Parents urged to ensure children’s safety during kite flying, paediatricians warn

Accidents during flying kites are now being frequently reported as flying kites have become a popular hobby among children these days, the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children said.

Therefore, Acting Director of the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, Consultant Specialist Dr. Pradeep Ratnasekara requested the public, issuing a statement, to pay special attention to children's safety and following proper safety methods when flying kites.

Although flying kites is a fun activity, persons including children face severe damage as well as even life risks in certain instances due to acting carelessly and away from safety methods, the statement pointed out.

A severe risk of complicated injuries is possible due to collisions, falls that could happen when flying kites in groups, as well as possible falls when trying to fly kites from buildings or high places.

The doctors noted instances of children being hospitalised with severe burn injuries due to electric current transmitting along the thread attached to the kite and electric shocks from threads when tangled in high-voltage power lines were observed.

Severe damage can occur to body tissues, blood vessels, and nerves in arms, upper arms, and chest area due to burns occurring from electric shocks.

Surgeons report that due to the inability to restore parts damaged in this manner, removing those parts through surgeries even occurs.

Meanwhile, the hospital director points out that even life losses can instantly occur due to threads with electrical conductivity tangling with high-voltage power lines.

According to this, parents and adults must pay special attention to prevent children from flying kites in areas where high-voltage power lines exist.

As children's joy as well as their safety are equally important, parents, adults, as well as the entire society must act responsibly and with understanding to prevent such dangerous incidents that can occur due to flying kites, the Director of the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children further emphasised.