They are a popular decoration used to embellish homes to celebrate birthdays, graduations, Mother’s Day, anniversaries, actually… come to think of it there must be a Mylar balloon (those metal-foil helium balloons) designed to mark just about every special occasion known to man.
My daughter loves the shiny balloons and we use them to decorate our home for a number of special events. Tomorrow is Mother’s Day (we already have a balloon bouquet floating around the living room courtesy of my parents) and Sunday is also the day many students that attend our local college will earn their diplomas. I know this because there are two homes on our street that have “Happy Graduation” Mylar balloons tied to their mailboxes.
The bright reflective balloons make wonderful decorations, however, they can also put a real damper on your party should they get entangled in power lines. We recently got an insert in our electric bill warning all homeowners to hold on to their Mylar balloons because of the damage and inconvenience they can cause when allowed to float away. According to our power company, workers have been deluged with calls regarding power outages. The culprit: the Mylar balloons. The balloons and ribbons create a hazard when they get twisted in electrical lines.
In our area alone there were more than two-dozen balloon related outages last summer (the time of year when outdoor parties are in full swing), and as a result, more than 10,000 customers lost power. What’s more, according to power company officials, balloon- related outages last longer because of the dangers involved in clearing the lines and restoring power.
With that said, here are a few tips on how to prevent your Mylar balloons from taking to the sky:
· Make sure each of the balloons has a small weight attached to the end of the ribbon or string such as a mug, small stuffed animal or a toy.
· Do not remove weights until the balloon is deflated.
· Never cluster balloons together. Balloons arranged in large groups have a greater chance of rising and becoming entangled in power lines.
· Never use metallic ribbons, which can also get entwined in power lines and cause a short circuit.
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