After flowers and candy, balloons are a popular way of saying you love somebody. Balloons pose a threat to the environment if let loose into nature. The Balloon Council wants you to follow a few simple procedures to ensure that you can enjoy balloons but help nature at the same time. Show your love for the planet! “Don’t let go: Inflate. Weight. Enjoy.”
The Balloon Council is encouraging sweethearts everywhere to follow Smart Balloon Practices and the motto, “Don’t let go: Inflate. Weight. Enjoy.” so everyone can continue to enjoy heartfelt, colorful balloons AND take active steps to protect the environment.
Another way to help show your “LOVE” for the planet is to participate in a beach or neighborhood clean-up around Valentine’s Day to catch any stray balloons that accidentally “got away.”
You can also follow these tips, POPPD for short, to remember how to use balloons safely:
- Put A String on It – Just as you want to secure the one you love, always keep balloons secured with a string and tied to a weight.
- Only Love is Forever – When finished with disposable balloons, pop and properly dispose of them. Foil balloons, on the other hand, can be reinflated or repurposed.
- Protect Your Loved Ones – Nothing compares to your love for your child, so ensure that children with balloons are always monitored. Children under eight (8) years of age can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons.
- Practice Self-Love – Be kind to your body by NEVER inhaling helium.
- Don’t let go – of your lover’s hand or your balloon. Do not release any balloons into the air, they can end up in places where they don’t belong.
Fun Fact: The first valentine was reportedly a poem written by a French medieval duke named Charles to his wife in 1415.