Let's Have a Party The Safe Way

By Cherie Kennedy, Home Consultant, Child Care Resource & Referral

There are many reasons to celebrate in life, and a birthday is one of them. I remember birthdays of my youth, and how I would look forward to those special days. Balloons are frequently a part of our celebrations. Balloons are wonderful, but they can be dangerous unless an adult closely supervises children with balloons. Also, latex balloons can pose a risk to anyone allergic to latex.

Of all children’s products, balloons are the leading cause of suffocation death, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) injury data. “Because of the danger of suffocation, the CPSC recommends that parents and guardians do not allow children under the age of eight to play with uninflated balloons without supervision.” (Source: Consumer Product Safety Alert)

So what can parents do?

• If you have balloons at your child’s birthday party or another event, do not allow any children under age eight to play with uninflated balloons. Children should never be allowed to suck, chew, or play with an uninflated balloon.

• Do not allow children to blow up balloons – have adults blow up balloons with a hand pump.

• Do not allow children to put inflated balloons in their mouth. If a balloon pops, a piece could get caught in a child’s throat. Closely supervise children with inflated balloons.

• Be aware of potential latex allergies, and consider buying Mylar balloons instead. Just keep Mylar balloons away from any power lines.

• Do not give a balloon to a child in a car. If the balloon pops, a child could accidentally swallow a small piece.

• Ensure that any broken pieces of balloons are immediately discarded no matter where you are – at home, in a park, or at other locations.

Let’s celebrate with safety when it comes to balloons!