22 April 2005 00:00 Let’s go fly a kite, up to the highest height… BUT SAFELY

Everyone remembers the Mary Poppins song ‘Let’s Go Fly a Kite’, but this spring Central Networks is urging kite enthusiasts across the Midlands to keep safe whilst flying their kites to the highest height.

The electricity distribution company for central England has this simple message: ‘Look up, and Look out’ and never fly your kite anywhere near electricity overhead lines.

While electrical accidents are rare, they can have serious outcomes. If a kite becomes tangled in overhead lines, high voltage electricity can travel along the string, seriously burning or even killing whoever comes into contact with it.

Stephen Hennell, Central Networks’ Network and Public Safety Manager, said: “It’s important that the public are aware of the potential dangers of flying kites – especially with the May bank holiday approaching. You must never fly them anywhere near electricity overhead lines as you’re risking serious injury or death.”

If your kite is blown towards an electricity line Stephen has the following advice:

1. Let go of the string or any attached control wire immediately;
2. Do not attempt to touch the string to pull the kite free, high voltage electricity can travel down string;
3. Keep yourself and others well away;
4. Ring the number shown on the pole notice for help, we can safely remove the kite from the line. If you leave it hanging and say nothing, someone else could get hurt or even killed by touching the hanging string.

Kites can also cause a loss of supply to customers, which could affect homes, traffic, railway control equipment, businesses and, in some cases, vital medical equipment.

Ends

Notes to Editors:
• Central Networks is the electricity distribution company for central England and is new name for Midlands Electricity and East Midlands Electricity.
• The company brings power to 4.8 million customers across the East and West Midlands through 133,000km of underground and overhead cables and via almost 97,000 substations;
• Central Networks covers an area from the Peak District in the north to parts of Bristol in the south, and from the Welsh Borders to the Lincolnshire Coast.

For further information contact:
Kathy Doyle on 024 7642 4292
For access to selected Central Networks images free of charge register at www.newscast.co.uk