August 17, Colombo (LNW): The Health Ministry has called on parents and guardians to take extra precautions as hospitals report an increase in accidents associated with kite flying during the school holidays.
Acting Director of Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, specialist Dr Pradeep Ratnasekara, said the dry weather had encouraged more children to take up kite flying, but a lack of supervision and unsafe practices could turn the pastime into a serious hazard.
He urged adults to keep a close watch on children, particularly when they are flying kites in crowded areas or near buildings and electrical infrastructure.
Among the main dangers are falls and collisions, especially when children run while watching their kites or attempt to launch them from rooftops, balconies and other elevated locations. Such behaviour can result in serious injuries.
Electrical accidents pose an even greater threat. Kite strings that come into contact with high-voltage power lines can conduct electricity, potentially causing severe electric shocks and extensive burns. Medical specialists have encountered cases in which electrical injuries have caused irreversible damage to muscles, blood vessels and nerves in the hands, arms and chest, sometimes leaving surgeons with no option but to remove severely damaged tissue or limbs.
In the most serious incidents, contact with an electrically charged kite string can result in death within seconds.
Dr Ratnasekara stressed that kite flying itself is a harmless and enjoyable activity when carried out responsibly, but children should never be allowed to fly kites close to power lines, from elevated structures or in locations where they could collide with one another.
He appealed to parents, teachers and the wider community to make safety a priority throughout the holiday period, saying greater awareness and supervision could prevent avoidable injuries and fatalities while allowing children to enjoy the activity safely.