30 replies to this topic

[Re-enactor]

At my wedding last year several of these were released by friends after the ceremony- this was at a major Medieval re-enactment with 100's of tents around! Watching them yes they looked pretty but I did worry about their use! Logically no pro fire-wise as they shouldn't come down till the fuel has run out if used in appropriate conditions (a nice calm evening like my occasion) but still worry about the debris. Personally think I will use these myself but tethered- I know it's not reccomended by manufacturers but seems best for not worrying coastguard/ farmers/ landowners/ tent owners!

[TGR]

Re-enactor. Please may I suggest you DO NOT tether your lanterns but follow the instructions on the product. If used correctly they are perfectly safe.
By tethering you may be making a "perceived" hazard into a "real" one! The only incidents with these items are caused by failure to follow the instructions.


Coastguard get called out - yes i'm sure it happens but only because users ignore the "Do not launch where the lantern could be confused as a distress signal" instruction.
So a beach launch is not sensible (unless of course you pre-notify the CG).

Setting fire to barns and hay bales - happens too, but only when these are launched in anything other than the stipulated calm conditions , and the idiot launching has not noticed the hay-barn 5 yards down-wind. What people fail to grasp is that these items, if they are still burning, are producing lift; it is only when they are out do they fall, harmlessly, back to earth.

Sad the kid was injured but IMO that splatter burn is consistent with the small child launching the lantern, short arms meant he was standing directly underneath it and no doubt looking up. As he let go, it tipped and the wax fell maybe 2- 3 feet (at most) onto his face. Why? Because parents ignored the warning "This is NOT a toy. For Adult use only. Keep children well away from lanterns at all times". To take blame from themselves the parents suggest it was "at least 40 feet in the air etc etc"

Our lanterns have been bio-degradable for quite a while...bamboo frame (our population of wild Pandas eat that ;-) ), tissue canopy, string support and paper/cloth wick (we don't use wax). So apart from a bit of debris that will dissipate in a short time, with no real environmental impact.


Back to safety

It is the person who launches, and where they launch, these lanterns that have the biggest impact on the safety. I mean, a golf ball hit straight down the fairway at 100mph by a pro is a harmless and enjoyable spectacle, but if a rank-amateur were to attempt the same feat in the middle of TESCO's car park on a Saturday morning then it will no doubt end in tears; But who is to blame? The golf ball or the golfer?

And finally, rocket sticks fall back to earth and can "potentially" cause damage,( as mentioned by an earlier poster) . Just as a matter of interest Re-enactor, to reduce the risk do you tether your rockets

Edited by TGR, 15 December 2010 - 01:55 PM.

[dr thrust]

rocket sticks have the potential to cause mischief perhaps bouncing off your car bonnet, shed roof, but they dont have the potential to float for miles, till out of site, land and torch everything! crop fire

[cooperman435]

But neither do Lanterns.......................

If the come down they MUST be out or they would still be generating lift and going up or floating....

[Night Owl]

Agreed Phill very true.

But neither do Lanterns.......................

If the come down they MUST be out or they would still be generating lift and going up or floating....

Edited by Night Owl, 16 December 2010 - 01:35 AM.

[Mumbles]

That assumes they work correctly. I've seen one fired on a seemingly calm night. It appeared to get caught by some wind up in the air, and either flip over, or collapse upon itself and come back to earth still burning. Luckily it happened pretty close to where it was fired and we took care of it, but the same thing could easily happen as it floats out of sight, or at least far enough way you could not easily get to it or know where it lands.

This is just the same as bottle rockets can veer off erratically and land in a pile of dry leaves. The unexpected does happen.

[Mortartube]

I was at a wedding in the summer. Everything was fairly dry and a number of lanterns were let off by the guests. One got caught in a tree very soon after take off and must have been burning for at least 10 mins. It harmlessly burned itself out even though it was about 30 degrees from vertical. Overall they are well designed and pretty safe.

[Atom Fireworks]

Just like anything they are safe enough to assume when used correctly they are safe and should not cause any harm unless in exceptional circumstances, ide sooner have 100 lanterns landin all over my area on the 5th as apposed to 100 of the biggest rockets you can get !!!!

[dr thrust]

so whats causing all the fires then? i go with mumbles on the toppling over and collapsing scenario

Edited by dr thrust, 17 December 2010 - 07:50 PM.

[cooperman435]

Id agree, so it comes down to not following instructions then yep?

In still air they will rise and continue to be airbourn untill extinguished then fall out of the sky.

In gusty or windy conditions they will act erratically and may cause injury or damage.

Instructions say use in still conditions, user error must be blamed.

[phildunford]

Instructions say use in still conditions, user error must be blamed.

True, but as we saw at Stanford Hall, who is going to buy a lantern & then put it away because it's too windy...

[cooperman435]

No Arguments there Phil but Im only stating that if you dont follow the safety instructions to the letter then its not the items fault if the instructions you failed to follow would or could have prevented the accident.

We are living in a sickening world where someone is always held responsible for everything, in my opinion accidents do happen and we learn by them as everyone always has done before. I remember the old days where u bumped a car, exchanged insurance details and forgot about it untill premium time came around, now the police prosecute someone 99% of the time for careless driving! FFS we nearly all drive and loose concentration at some point but some are unluckier than others at that split second in time.

Lanterns do as they are supposed to if used as they are supposed to.

[digger]

rocket sticks have the potential to cause mischief perhaps bouncing off your car bonnet, shed roof, but they dont have the potential to float for miles, till out of site, land and torch everything! crop fire

Or in extreme circumstances penetrating a roof.

[maxman]

Dr Thrust and his amazing flying broom handles

Maxman

[dr thrust]

i think it was that "chris-m" chap with the broom handles, not me dr thrust

Edited by dr thrust, 18 December 2010 - 10:34 PM.