PSEG Long Island
Memorial Day is right around the corner, and with the holiday comes graduations, parades, barbecues and other celebrations. Helium and Mylar balloons often make these gatherings feel more festive–but while they’re great party decor, they can also cause outages when they come into contact with power lines.
When the party’s over, it’s important to remember to dispose of Helium balloons properly. Allowing balloons to drift from the celebration to the power lines can cause a short circuit and eventually lead to an outage. Mylar balloons pose an even greater risk. Their metallic coating conducts electricity and when they come into contact with live wires, can cause outages, fires and possible injuries.
Here’s a video from our friends at Arizona Public Service showing the danger of balloons in power lines.
The safety of our customers is always our top priority. To reduce the risk of outages and injuries, keep the following safety tips in mind:
- Never touch a power line. Do not attempt to retrieve a balloon, toy or other type of debris that is entangled in an overhead power line. Call PSEG Long Island to report the problem at 1-800-490-0075 so our crews can remove the item safely.
- Mylar balloons and other decorations should be kept away from overhead power lines and all utility equipment.
- Make sure balloons are secured to a weight that is heavy enough to prevent them from floating away. Keep balloons tethered and attached to the weights at all times.
- Always properly dispose of Mylar balloons by safely puncturing the balloon in several places to release the helium that otherwise could cause the balloon to float away.
For more kite and balloon safety tips, visit our website, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
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