Balloons can make any occasion more festive. They can be used to celebrate the birth of a child, to show your affection on Valentine’s Day or to help draw attention to a business or sale. But balloons are most popular for birthdays, which make them a safety issue year-round.

Runaway balloons, especially those with metallic content, are a danger if they come into contact with power lines. When they do, they can cause a temporary power outage. Hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses lose power every year when helium-filled foil balloons float into power lines.

The balloon’s metal coating conducts electricity. When the balloon touches the wire, it could start a fire or create an electrical surge. Either way, power in the neighborhood goes out, home electronics are at risk and SPEC’s property is damaged.

If you take balloons outdoors, make sure they are secured with a weight, or are tied down tightly. Never take them near overhead power lines or set them free deliberately. When you’re ready to dispose of the balloon, make a small hole in the balloon to release any lingering helium. That way, the balloon won’t accidently float away or blow out of the trash can.

If a balloon does get stuck in a power line, never try to retrieve it yourself. Give us a call to report it instead. We will send linemen with the proper safety equipment to remove the balloon and repair any damage it may have caused to the power line.