TWRA, CPSC cooperate on kite tubing safety alert

Consultant Rodney Tart makes a point during Tuesday’s commissioner’s meeting, as county Public Utilities Director Kip McClary observes. (Deuce Niven photo)

Consultant Rodney Tart makes a point during Tuesday’s commissioner’s meeting, as county Public Utilities Director Kip McClary observes. (Deuce Niven photo)

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has advised extreme care in the use of tube kites such as the one shown above, after several people were injured around the nation.

Tube kites are large, wide, sometimes saucer or delta-shaped inflatable tubes that are towed behind boats at speeds between 25 to 35 miles per hour. The speed of the boat causes the tube to lift into the air with its passenger(s), at times to 30 or more feet.

?To date, there have been at least 33 accidents nationwide and 3 fatalities where the riders have either fallen or been thrown off tube kite type devices. A plunge from 15 or more feet while the boat is moving at 30 miles per hour can cause severe injury or even death,? said Ed Carter, Chief of Boating for TWRA.

Injuries that have been reported consist of concussion, lung and heart trauma, ruptured ear drum, lacerated liver, bleeding spleen, cracked vertebrae, collapsed lungs, punctured lungs, broken ribs, broken arms and legs.

In a Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warning on tube kites released on June 30, they noted that possible reasons for incidents and injuries include a rider?s difficulty in controlling the tube, boat operator inexperience, and how the tube reacts in certain weather conditions. Conditions of highest concern to the CPSC are wind gusts that can cause the tube to spin out of control, or sudden stopping or slowing by the boat operator. According to the CPSC, slowing can cause the tube to nose dive and hit the water or allow the tube rider to continue past the top of the boat and hit either the towing boat, another watercraft or other objects such as a bridge.

?We want to help the Consumer Product Safety Commission alert Tennessee water recreation enthusiasts to the danger of falling into the water at dangerous heights from one of these water toys,? Carter said. ?Just because you?re coming down into the water, doesn?t necessarily make for a soft, cushy landing; especially when you can be going 30 miles an hour face first.?