Ever thought of celebrating the Valentine’s Day by sending a red heart balloon that has an “I love you” message on your sweetheart’s way?
No? Well, this is just about the time. You have the support and solidarity of The Balloon Council (TBC), a non-profit organisation made up of responsible retailers, distributors, and manufacturers that are dedicated to educating others about the balloons and their proper handling. The main reason is that balloons will not end up as litter.
“Millions of balloons are sold on Valentine’s Day, so this is the perfect time to raise awareness about the best ways to handle and dispose of balloon properly,” said Lorna O’Hara, Executive Director of TBC.
While you are at it, follow the tips from TBC’s national Smart Balloon Practices Campaign to keep you, your valentine and the entire universe healthy:
- Do not release any balloons into the air—they can become tangled in power lines and turn into litter.
- Keep balloons secured with a string and tied to a weight.
- Children with balloons should always be monitored. Children under eight (8) years of age can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons.
- When finished with balloons, pop them and properly dispose of them.
- Despite the funny voice helium can give you, it should never be inhaled.
“Even though red is the primary color for Valentine’s Day we hope people will think ‘green’ when using balloons to celebrate,” said O’Hara. “Balloons are recyclable and biodegradable, but we all need to do our part and be mindful of these smart practices to ensure that balloons are a part of our celebrations for years to come. Just follow our motto, Don’t let go: Inflate. Weight. Enjoy.”
The bottomline is simple: Let your romance warm the hearts, not the globe!
