It seems like there are so many fund raising events happening in all communities throughout the country. Some of the events are for small specific funds and others are on a much larger scale. It seems like no matter what the event people are looking for an inexpensive way to decorate the area where the fund raiser is taking place. One of the most inexpensive and colorful ways is quickly being eliminated as an option. Balloon decorating is becoming a thing of the past due to the number of people that are allergic to them.

We are very lucking in my family. We do not have any allergies. As a result my children’s birthday parties always included balloon decorating. I remember my husband and me blowing up balloons before some of the parties. By the time we were done we were light headed and dizzy from the effort. We would also use helium in some of the balloons. We would have them scattered around the party space and also tied to the end of the driveway so that people knew which house the party was at.

I knew that people had allergies to balloons, but I did not know how severe some of the reactions can be. This first came to my attention when hospitals and clinics started putting up signs barring balloons in patient’s rooms. Only mylar balloons are allowed. I still thought this was more of a precaution than anything until I was talking to another mother at a school event. We were getting ready for the school carnival, an annual fund raising event. In the past we have used balloon decorating to make the space look festive. When I think of carnivals I think of balloons. The other mother told me that her son is so allergic to balloons he has the same reaction as someone that is allergic to bee stings. He has respiratory distress and passes out. She discovered this on his second birthday when she had used balloon decorating in their home.

Now that I know how severe a reaction can be I will not risk using balloon decorating for the children’s parties. I know that they are not allergic, but you never know if one of their guests will be. My daughter’s birthday is in the summer so she still wants to have balloon decorating out in the yard. I told her that she needs to ask her friends if they are allergic to balloons before we do this.