A Distress Signal- Not a Chinese Lantern

Chinese Lanterns have been around for centuries. Invented by the renowned military strategist, Zhuge Liang (also known as Kong Ming), these lanterns were originally used as signalling devices in times of warfare. Well, it appears that they are going back to their roots…

In an ironic twist of fate, Chinese lanterns are causing some controversy in coastal areas across the UK because they are being mistaken for distress signals. Recent news has recorded that innocent parties marking the passing of a loved one or celebrating with their families have caused chaos when their lanterns provoked over-sensitive coastguard officers to alert rescue teams. It would appear that these graceful, slowly ascending paper objects can be all too easily mistaken for whopping great flare guns…hmmm.

Of course, emergency services are there for a reason; to avert and prevent potential emergencies, far better that they assume the worst than turn a blind eye towards a real life-threatening situation. But really, in this instance, a pair of binoculars might just do the trick. Launching a sky lantern (or many lanterns) is a wonderful way of marking an important occasion, whether it be a wedding, birth, or death and it would be truly tragic if this were no longer permitted in certain areas. So, if you live in a coastal town and intend to release some Chinese lanterns this weekend, perhaps exercise a little caution and inform those short-sighted coastguards beforehand!

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