SMUD Offers Kite Safety Tips

Sacramento Municipal Utility District officials have announced safety tips to help make kite flying a safe experience.

• Build or buy kites made of wood or plastic. Only use cloth for the tail.

• Fly kites in wide, open areas, away from power lines.  

• Only use cotton, linen or nylon string. Never use metallic thread, wire or wire reinforced string as they can cause a fire, serious injury or death if they come in contact with energized electrical equipment.

• Only fly kites in dry weather. When kite string gets wet it becomes a stronger conductor of electricity.

•If a kite gets caught in electrical lines or falls into a substation, leave it there. Do not touch any part of the kite or string and keep everyone away.

To have a SMUD employee come out to safely retrieve a kite caught in power lines or equipment, call  1-888-742-SMUD (7683). For additional electrical safety tips, visit www.smud.org