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Fly your kites safely this Easter
By: Richard Francois
Kaieteur News – The Easter season is here and it is the time to fly your kites and have lots of fun with your family and friends. As you fly your kites this Easter, please ensure that you do so safely and responsibly, so as not to endanger yourself and those around you. Fly your kites in wide open spaces and away from power lines. This article will outline a few kite-flying safety tips you should pay heed to when flying your kites this Easter.
Tips for safe kite flying:
kite-flying
Do not fly kites near power lines – Ensure that you find wide open spaces to fly your kites this Easter. It is dangerous to fly your kites near power lines. If by chance your kite becomes stuck on a power line, do not try to remove it yourself. Do not try to free the kite by pulling and/or tugging at it. It is advisable that you let go of the kite immediately after it comes into contact with power lines. Contact the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL Inc.) immediately if you believe your kite poses a danger to others and needs to be taken down.
Do not fly your kites near roadways – It is dangerous and unsafe to fly your kites near roadways. Apart from the clear and present danger of possibly running onto the roadway into oncoming traffic, kites can be a distraction to drivers particularly if those kites come down suddenly on the roadway obscuring the view of drivers.
Do not fly your kites near airports – Flying kites near airports can not only distract pilots but kites can easily be ingested into aircraft engines or even become entangled in aircraft propellers. These incidents can result in engine failure with catastrophic consequences to aircraft passengers and persons on the ground. Information gleaned from the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand posits that you should not fly kites within 4 km of an airport above 400 ft (about 150km) above ground level, or over 400 ft below cloud.
Be aware of your surroundings – It is important that you are acutely aware of what is behind you as well as in front of you at all times. Do not keep walking backwards without looking back to ensure your path is clear. Failure to do so can result in a variety of incidents that can range from embarrassing to life threatening.
Avoid flying your kite in bad weather – Do not fly your kites in stormy, thundery weather, particularly on beaches. Though it may not be raining, lightning can strike or static electrical charges build up and run to earth down your kite twine and through you, this may result in burns or worse. So please watch the weather before going out to fly your kites.
Some additional points to note: Do not run with your kite unless absolutely essential and if so, be sure that the ground is clear and fairly level. Do not allow the line or twine to wrap around your fingers or limbs. Kite strings can cut deeply and cause friction burns. If possible, protect your hands by wearing gloves. Wear sun glasses or a peaked cap to protect your eyes in bright sunlight. And be sure to protect yourself from exposure to the sun by wearing sunscreen.
Please practice these safety measures to ensure you, your friends and family all have a fun-filled experience. Have a happy and safe Easter from all of us at Kaieteur News!
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