What is Helium?
Helium is a by-product of LPG extraction. Helium is collected when natural gas is mined, so the environmental damage caused by helium extraction is negligible. Contrary to media reports, the world is not running out of helium. Identified helium reserves around the world are still plentiful.
The helium going into balloons is not reducing the supply of helium for MRI and other related medical equipment as the media has recently reported. Medical grade helium is 99.999% pure. This purification process costs inordinate amounts of money but has to be done so the helium is suitable for vital medical equipment to be able to keep operating in our hospitals. The helium that is deemed unfit for purification for medical use (up to 99% pure helium) is the stuff that we get access to for our balloons. This helium is suitable for some manufacturing purposes and balloons. The manufacturing sector gets first priority at this helium because they are able to pay more and buy in bulk. The balloon industry is the bottom of the food chain in terms of supply of helium. We are not the cause of the 2013 worldwide helium shortage. Most helium is used by the Medical Profession, Space Programs, and manufacturing industries. The balloon and party industry use approx 5%-7% of the total supply of helium at any given point in time. However, you won’t hear any of this information reported in the media, because never want to let the facts get in the way of a good story!
Having helium balloons for your events is NOT reducing the supply and availability of helium for use in life-saving medical equipment.
Helium Safety
The gas used to float balloons is called helium. Helium is NON-TOXIC and NON-FLAMMABLE and therefore quite harmless. However, helium should not be inhaled. The party trick of inhaling a balloon full of helium to change your voice is dangerous and must be discouraged at all times as it displaces a persons supply of oxygen in the blood stream and may cause dizziness, unconsciousness and possibly death. Inhaling helium is like Russian Roulette. There is one bullet in the gun. If enough people pull the trigger, someone will eventually get the bullet. Make sure you don’t get “the bullet”. Don’t inhale helium.
At Soda Pop Balloons we do not use clips. We hand tie all our balloons to make it as hard as possible for people to access the helium in the balloons for the purposes of sucking it. If you have any questions please contact us at anytime.
