WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN

 

 

It’s a known fact that what goes up must come down. However, folks don’t always associate that fact with balloons. Thus, there is a growing problem of “balloon pollution” that is becoming a significant problem for farmers and their livestock as well as wildlife.

Those mylar balloons that we release at weddings, birthday and anniversary parties are symbols of our celebrations of life. They bring color and add flamboyance at births, birthdays, spread get well wishes and even celebrate life when released when scattering the ashes of a loved one.  

As harmless as they seem, that is far from the truth. The balloons can stay in the air for 10 hours and have been found as far as 1300 miles from where they were launched. Latex itself is biodegradeable but when it is processed for balloons and treated with chemicals and dye, its composition is changed and balloons can take between six months and up to four years to decompose. Here lies the major problem.

 

THE HAZARDS. Many of them eventually make their way to farmers’ fields, lakes and oceans where they pose threats to livestock, wildlife and even pets. The Unites States Fish and Wildlife calls balloons a major hazard for wildlife from both strangulation and ingesting. The strings get wrapped around birds, sea turtles and other wildlife and they can’t free themselves.

 

They cannot only be unhealthy, but deadly for any animal that ingests even parts of a balloon. They cause blockages in the stomachs and intestines which in turn prevents the animal from eating and they starve to death. One farmer had to fish a balloon out from halfway down a bull’s gullet. For animals, these balloons cause injury, suffering and death when they are ingested by cattle, horses, sheep…and even the family dog. 

If your first thought is that most animals won’t just eat a balloon, that’s true. However, many of these land in fields and are picked up by hay balers along with the grass and end up in the middle of hay bales where they can’t be seen. When animals eat the hay, they also ingest the balloon, either whole or in fragments.

Many animals are naturally curious and are drawn to something bright and shiny in their surroundings. Even if they don’t try to eat it, the strings tend to get wrapped around them and they can’t free themselves. Many have been strangled like this.

Balloons also cause havoc in the air. A couple years ago a bundle of helium balloons was thought to have caused a twin-engine plane to crash. The report from the National Transportation Safety Board said that the plane hit the free flying balloons and the pilot lost control.

If loose balloons come into contact with power lines, they can cause explosions, power outages, downed power lines and much more damage that can result in extremely dangerous risks to public safety. A few years ago in El Cajon, mylar balloons got tangled in an overhead cable, causing it to overload and fall to the road which set fire to a row of parked vehicles, leaving thousands of homes and businesses out of power.

These balloons are not only dangerous to farmers’ livestock, but they also wreak havoc on their equipment. They get caught up in the equipment causing costly breakdowns and repairs.

 

WHAT IS BEING DONE.

 

Many folks simply aren’t aware of the dangers that lurk with the release of these seemingly harmless balloons. That is why certain organizations are working to make people aware of the damage they do and to put practices in place to halt their release.

 

Farming and conservation groups are demanding a ban of releasing balloons and Chinese lanterns. The state of Maryland has taken the initiative to ban all balloons in the state.

 

HELIUM SHORTAGE. Of course, helium is what makes a balloon ascend and there has been a helium shortage. Helium was produced by the radioactive decay of rock years ago. It is non-renewable and it is estimated that it may be depleted within 20 to 30 years.

Most folks only think of helium in relation to balloons but, actually, it is a critical component in scientific research, medical technology, high-tech manufacturing, space exploration and in national defense fields. It is used to keep superconductivity magnets cold in MRI machines, as semiconductor chips in mobile phones and computer hard drives, in eye surgery and in many medical devices. So, using less in balloons would help conserve the supply for necessary applications.

 

BALLOON ALTERNATIVES. I remember when we planned the graduation party for our son. We worked on every detail all week long and the balloons were the crowning glory. We picked them up at the last minute and, for some odd reason, they burst at the last minute. It was like the air was let out (no pun intended) of our party plans.

So, if balloons are so bad and are banned, what’s to keep it from being a real party pooper for our celebrations? Well, there are alternatives like:

*Try flags, banners and streamers. They will save you money, are weather-resistant and can be used over and over.

*Plants and garden spinners are other options. They are visually appealing and can be enjoyed for years. Some can even be customized for various occasions.

*Lighting candles. Many people already do this for memorial celebrations. They can also be customized for births, weddings, etc.

*Bubbles aren’t just for kids. I have seen these replace bird seed at weddings and they make a nice display when many are released at once. They even have giant ones now.

*Plant a tree, plant or flower in honor of the occasion. Giving life to these plants is like a non-ending celebration. They also provide shelter, resources and clean air to people, wildlife and communities. They last longer than any other options and can be re-visited.

Balloons are great if they are used in the right way. They add a flair to inside celebrations for quite some time. They can be flattened and kept in scrapbooks forever. Balloons don’t have to go by the wayside if we just use them for the right purposes. Our world will be a better place for it.