SAN DIEGO (KGTV) -- Mylar balloons are common Valentine’s Day gifts, and San Diego Gas & Electric is reminding the public to “keep their beloved balloons close to their hearts and away from power lines.”
Because Mylar balloons have a metal coating that give them their color, if a balloon were to come into contact with a power line, it could lead to an outage or worse.
The utility says they notice an increase in Mylar balloon-related incidents around Valentine’s Day every year.
SDG&E is asking that balloon recipients follow these tips to prevent any potential outages:
-- Keep your Mylar balloons indoors
-- If your Valentine’s Day festivities take you outdoors, keep your balloons securely fastened or attached to a weight
-- When the fun is done, dispose of a Mylar balloon by fully deflating it so that it doesn’t get loose and float away. Partially-inflated Mylar balloons can easily become airborne
-- If you notice a Mylar balloon, or any object, entangled in an overhead power line, please call 911 or SDG&E at 800-411-7343. Do not try to remove it yourself
According to the utility, Mylar balloons have caused more than 500 power outages across the San Diego region over the past five years.
