Many patients have to have limbs amputated due to kite flying, fishing, and venomous snake bites.

High-voltage electric burns caused by kite flying or fishing.

Summer is a time when children are on school holidays and adults enjoy many outdoor recreational activities. However, according to Dr. Trinh Van Thong, Head of the Burn Department at Nghe An Friendship General Hospital, this is also when electrical burn and snakebite accidents increase dramatically.

Statistics show that, on average, the Burn Department of Nghe An Friendship General Hospital receives about 1,000 patients each year, of which 50 to 100 cases (accounting for 5-10%) are related to electrical burns caused by kite flying and fishing. In June alone, the department received 3 cases of burns from fishing, 2 cases from kite flying, and about 5-6 cases of seriously injured children.

High voltage electricity has an extremely dangerous characteristic: the ability to discharge through the air when the distance is close enough. This means that even if people don't directly touch the power lines, accidents can still happen if kite strings or fishing rods enter the magnetic field of the power grid.

A typical case is patient C.D.T (born in 1956, residing in Dai Dong commune) who was admitted to the hospital on June 29th. Mr. T. suffered high-voltage electrical burns while fishing when his fishing rod came into contact with a power line. With burns covering approximately 8% of his body but reaching depths of degree 2-5, doctors were forced to amputate half of his right foot (where the current exited to make contact with the ground). The most severe damage was concentrated in the area where he held the fishing rod and the area of ​​his foot that touched the ground.

Another case involves patient LTL (born in 1953, residing in Song Tri ward, Ha Tinh province) who was admitted in June and discharged on June 13th. Mr. L. suffered electric burns from flying a kite, resulting in the amputation of his fifth finger and damage to his toes... In addition, on June 29th, the department also received patient LTL (57 years old) with severe burns to his hands and chest due to an electric current flowing through his kite string when he tried to untangle his kite from a high-voltage power line.

For adults, accidents often occur when using fishing rods made of carbon or aluminum, which are excellent conductors of electricity. Swinging the rod in areas with power lines can cause immediate electrical discharge. Even more concerning, many night anglers with limited visibility are more likely to come into direct contact with power lines, resulting in actual electrical burns rather than just sparks.

Electrical burns not only cause skin damage but also destroy deep inside, from muscles, blood vessels, and nerves to bones and internal organs, leading to the risk of cardiac arrest or necrosis requiring amputation upon admission to the hospital.

Haunted by the bites of venomous snakes.

Besides the dangers from the power grid, summer and the rainy season also see an increase in venomous snake bites because this is the breeding season for snakes, making them very aggressive and highly venomous. Venomous snake bites, especially cobra bites, often cause severe localized soft tissue necrosis. In May-June 2026, the Burn Department also received and treated several patients bitten by venomous snakes.

The first case involves a child, N.N.H.N. (born in 2019, residing in Vinh Phu ward). N. was admitted to the hospital on May 18th after being bitten on the right foot by a cobra while visiting her hometown. After receiving stable treatment with antivenom in the Poison Control Department, she was transferred to the Burn Department for complex surgeries: debridement of necrotic skin, incision and opening of the right lower leg space, and subsequent skin grafting to cover the damaged area. Although her life was saved, she suffered cosmetic damage due to scarring and extensive skin necrosis.

The second case involves patient TXK (71 years old, residing in Quynh Son commune). Mr. K. suffered a rare accident right in his own home: After feeding his cows and washing his hands at the tap, he was attacked by a cobra that was lying there. Mr. K. was hospitalized on June 14th and, after 15 days of treatment, was discharged. Due to severe necrosis caused by the venom, the thumb of his right hand could not be preserved, and doctors had to surgically amputate it.

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To prevent and handle accidents, people should absolutely not fly kites or fish near power lines. In the event of an electrical accident, quickly separate the victim from the power source using insulating materials and perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if the patient experiences cardiac arrest. Absolutely do not apply mud or pour water on the electrocuted person, as this will not "discharge the electricity" but will instead cause severe infection and lead to deeper necrosis of the wound.
In the event of a snakebite, people should avoid dense bushes and areas where snakes often nest, and quickly take the victim to a medical facility for timely administration of antivenom to prevent unfortunate complications such as limb amputation.

Dr. Trinh Van Thong - Head of the Burn Department, Nghe An Friendship General Hospital