As graduations for high school and college approach, balloons become a big problem. Mylar balloons to be specific. Mylar balloons cause tens of thousands of power outages per year, across the country. The silvery coating on the exterior serves as a conductor for electricity and the balloons can short out transformers and melt wires by coming near, or contacting power lines. Evergy Public Safety Manager, Tim, with more:
Some safety tips: avoid celebrating with metallic balloons near overhead lines. Secure helium filled balloons with a weight to prevent them from floating away. Never release mylar balloons into the sky, puncture and deflate them when you are finished with them, and never try to retrieve them if they become stuck on or near a power line and, finally, consider alternate ways to celebrate that don’t involve mylar balloons.
