Families may want to skip Mylar balloons this graduation season

May 14—While Mylar or foil balloons may look nice at graduation parties and other summer celebrations, they can pose safety concerns for those who aren't careful.

Evergy is warning residents across the country about the dangers of these balloons and sharing alternatives to keep you safe.

Dan Hegeman, senior community business manager with Evergy, said Mylar balloons and electric systems don't necessarily integrate well. The company cautions people from using Mylar balloons around power lines.

"They can get into the power lines and cause a fault or a short," Hegeman said.

It's especially dangerous when someone is holding onto the string, making a path for electricity to surge.

"Electricity wants to go to (the) ground and it may go through you to get to the ground," Hegeman said.

Every year, tens of thousands of power outages are caused by Mylar balloons. Going into the summer months, it is especially important to consider as people celebrate birthdays, barbecues, Memorial Day and more. Restoring power can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours.

"This is a worldwide problem. We see it everywhere, not just in this region, but all across the country and across the world," he said.

To prevent dangerous encounters with Mylar balloons, Hegeman suggests a few options.

"Keep them tied down, put a weight on them so they don't fly off when you're done with them. Deflate the balloons," he said. "Don't let them fly off into the air because they may come down in a situation where it interacts with the power lines. And certainly just keep them away from the power lines."

Another alternative is to opt for a latex balloon. Since Mylar balloons can only be filled using an air pump or machine, typically with helium, latex could be a better option to ensure they don't float away.

"Regular balloons are just plastic or rubber and typically just blown up by human breath ... and then (with Mylar balloons) the electricity tracks along that shiny surface.," he said.

To learn more about the dangers of Mylar balloons coming in contact with a power line, check out Evergy's website at https://newsroom.evergy.com/2024-05-06-Evergy-Encourages-Mylar-Balloon-Safety-this-Graduation-Season.