By Staff Reports
(Honolulu) Graduation season is here and Hawaiian Electric Company urges everyone celebrating our proud graduates to hold on tight to their metallic balloons.
Metallic balloons are made of a material that conducts electricity. When a loose balloon tangles in a power line, it can create a short circuit that can lead to a power outage.
Tangled balloons may also present a safety issue for utility crews that have to remove the material from energized power lines.
To minimize the chances of a stray metallic balloon, please follow these simple tips:
- Always add a heavy weight on the end of the balloon string. If you have several metallic balloons, each balloon should have its own weight.
- At the point of purchase, make sure the retailer has securely tied the ribbon or string to the balloon at the sealing point.
- Use only non-metallic ribbon or string.
- Do not remove the weight until the balloon is properly deflated. The best way to deflate the balloon is to cut the balloon at the knot or sealing point.
- Most importantly, never release metallic balloons into the sky.
If you see a metallic balloon or any object caught in a power line, please leave it alone and call Hawaiian Electric’s trouble line at 548-7961 to report it.
For more information, visit HawaiianElectric.com and click on “Safety and Emergency.”