Parents and adults have been urged to pay close attention to children’s safety when flying kites, as kite-related accidents are frequently reported during school holidays.

Acting Director of the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children (LRH), Consultant Dr Pradeep Rathnasekara, said kite flying had become increasingly popular among children amid the current dry weather and school holidays, but warned that careless practices could result in serious injuries and even fatalities.

He cautioned against children flying kites from elevated locations, noting that they could lose their balance and fall, resulting in serious injuries.

Accidents could also occur when children fly kites in groups, particularly due to collisions and falls, he said.

Dr Rathnasekara stressed that flying kites near high-voltage power lines was extremely dangerous.

If a kite string comes into contact with a power line, electricity can travel through the string to the person holding it, potentially causing severe damage to tissues, blood vessels and nerves in the hands, arms and chest.

In serious cases, the injuries could be so severe that affected body parts may have to be surgically removed, he warned.

He also cautioned against the use of kite strings made from electrically conductive materials, which could come into contact with high-voltage power lines and result in fatal electric shocks.

Parents and adults therefore have a responsibility to ensure that children do not fly kites in areas where power lines are present, Dr Rathnasekara said.

While children should be allowed to enjoy their school holidays, their safety must be given equal priority, he stressed, urging parents and the public to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to prevent kite-flying-related accidents.