HECO has balloon safety tips

Helium-filled metallic balloons pose a risk to power lines

With graduation season here, the sight of large, brightly colored helium-filled balloons is a common yet potentially troublesome occurrence.

The popular decorations can cause power failures when the metallic balloons escape and become entangled in overhead power lines.

Unsecured helium-filled metallic balloons accounted for 22 power service interruptions last year.

Here are some do's and don'ts from the Hawaiian Electric Co. and the Balloon Council:

» Do not attach metallic ribbons to helium-filled balloons. Metallic ribbons could become entangled in power lines, also causing an outage.

» Do not tie helium-filled metallic balloons together, to prevent them from rising as a cluster that could get caught on power lines.

» Do not attempt to untangle or pull the string of a balloon caught in a power line.

» Do attach each helium-filled balloon to a counterweight.

» Do pop and place balloons in the trash when finished.

» Do report balloons caught in a power line to Hawaiian Electric Co. at 548-7961.