The BBC recently reported several false alarms for distress signals in Guernsey. This past Saturday search and rescue teams responded to eighteen separate incidents that were reported as distress flairs on the water. However, after investigating it was discovered that the culprit was sky lanterns. The harbour master in Guernsey requested that those who sell sky lanterns encourage their customers to use proper safety precautions and he further requested that those who are along the coast and use sky lanterns should notify the harbour master when and where they will be setting them off in order to avoid any such issues in the future.

At NightSkyLanterns, we always encourage our customers to use sky lanterns safely and according to specifications. We want you to have fun with sky lanterns but make sure to use some common sense and review the safety precautions prior to each use. If you are near a place where the sky lanterns may be mistaken for distress flairs or distress signals you may want to contact the proper authorities to let them know you are planning on launching sky lanterns. This way, if they receive reports of distress signals during the date and time you informed them, they will know it is your lanterns and not a real emergency. Responding to false claims may take resources from someone who really needs them so make sure you launch sky lanterns responsibly.

Whether you use traditional sly lanterns such as the ones found at http://www.nightskylanterns.co.uk/sky-lanterns/white-traditional-sky-lanterns/prod_8.html or novelty lanterns such as the football lanterns found athttp://www.nightskylanterns.co.uk/novelty-sky-lanterns/football-sky-lanterns/prod_26.html there are some safety precautions you should adhere to. Check our FAQ section for a complete list of the safety precautions but a few reminders include:

· Do not use sky lanterns when the weather is inclement. Use them when it is not windy or rainy.

· If a sky lantern is damaged, do not use it.

· Make sure the path of the sky lanterns is free from obstruction.

· Do not release sky lanterns where it could be mistaken for a distress signal. When in doubt, contact local authorities and notify them of your intent to use sky lanterns.

· Do not launch within five miles of an airport.

If you adhere to these few safety precautions you will ensure the sky lanterns provide a lot of fun for the whole family. Eighteen false alarms in one night is a lot to respond to. If there was a real emergency in Guernsey Saturday rescue personnel may have been delayed resulting in more severe consequences. Authorities in Guernsey are going to local shops that sell sky lanterns to encourage them prompt their customers to use the best safety practices when using sky lanterns. At NightSkyLanterns we also want to encourage you to launch sky lanterns safely. We realize we are the more affordable online sky lantern source so want to make sure any customers use sky lanterns safely and responsibly. With a little effort you can have a great time and stay safe!

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 13th, 2010 at 4:01 PM and is filed under General News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.