| Latex allergies are becoming more of a problem and | | | | used for outdoor events and do not contain latex. |
| here are some balloon tips and ideas: | | | | The most common shapes in jumbo inflatable’s |
| The allergies are caused by the powder in and | | | | are hot air, blimp and round shapes. Custom shapes |
| outside of latex balloons. This powder picks up the | | | | can be made of just about anything. They are |
| latex molecules and then spreads it around a room | | | | refillable, come with a patch kit, last outdoors for |
| where it may be inhaled and possibly cause an | | | | about a year and can be custom imprinted. |
| individual who has a latex allergy to have a severe | | | | Vinyl spherical shaped balloons are an excellent mold |
| reaction. | | | | for paper Mache' and plaster projects or even balloon |
| Instead of using the plain rubber balloons for | | | | toss. They are just like beach ball material. Sizes |
| decorations, use the mylar (foil type) or plastic | | | | range from 5" to 96". Vinyl balloons will not float at |
| balloons or vinyl balls for table centerpiece, stage and | | | | all. |
| room decorations. Mylar and plastic balloons are | | | | For a great substitute for latex water balloons. At |
| made without latex, last weeks longer than regular | | | | your local supermarket, purchase a box of regular |
| rubber balloons and can be reused until the | | | | sandwich bags, not the zip lock, not the fold lock top, |
| self-sealing valve fails. | | | | just cheap regular plastic bags. Fill the corner of the |
| To deflate a mylar or plastic balloon for recycling, | | | | bag with a fist full of water, spin the bag, tie off like |
| remove any ribbons from the balloon; insert a | | | | a regular balloon, cut off the excess plastic. They |
| common drinking straw into the valve until the air | | | | work great, readily available, cheap and fun. |
| starts to come out. Gently squeeze the balloon and | | | | For those parents who wish a school to consider |
| let the air out till flat, remove the straw, fold the flat | | | | using non latex balloons, please call your school nurse |
| balloon and store till next use. The mylar, plastic, | | | | or principal. |
| polyurethane and vinyl balloons can be reused until | | | | Balloon twisters, a nice non latex balloon for twisting |
| the valve fails. | | | | is available at It’s a roll of poly bags, 3”, cut |
| The 4" sized mylars in round, heart and star shape | | | | off desired length, heat seal or tie off one end, fill |
| work well as water balloons, fill with a turkey baster | | | | with air, then heat seal or tie off the other end. |
| and water, hand tie off like a regular balloon. | | | | While not perfect, they do work pretty good. |
| The latex balloons are made of rubber; they will | | | | Latex balloon substitutes that are now available are in |
| stretch from small to large size when they are blown | | | | the following materials: Vinyl, Plastic, Polyurethane |
| up. The latex balloon substitutes (latex balloon | | | | and Mylar balloons. Medical suppliers such as Merck, |
| alternative) will not stretch and are simply flat or filled. | | | | Johnson and Johnson, BD, techdevice.com, sell |
| The mylar and plastic balloons will float with sizes 18" | | | | medically certified non allergenic latex for use in |
| and greater and take 0.5 cu ft of helium each to fill. | | | | hospitals, labs, operating rooms and research. Ask |
| Never let any person inhale the gas. | | | | for rubber bladders and bulbs that are certified to be |
| Wash the mylar balloons with warm soap and water | | | | non allergenic. Synthetic latex is not an allergen, |
| and they become clear! | | | | natural latex made from rubber bush is Guayale. Run |
| Mylar balloons will conduct electricity. Plastic balloons | | | | an internet search on Yulex, techdevice or mrballoon |
| in 18” size, round and heart shapes will not | | | | There are new laws being introduced and |
| conduct electricity. Please use non conductive | | | | implemented into the legal system all the time on a |
| curling ribbon and never a metallic ribbon on any | | | | state by state basis regarding balloons. Schools, the |
| balloon. Some schools and hospitals have started | | | | work place, hospitals, etc. have recently changed |
| switching to non-latex balloon substitutes for latex | | | | their policies regarding latex balloons. The Balloon |
| sports balls, decorations, science experiments and | | | | Council in Washington DC has an excellent website |
| crafts. Mylar balloons can be washed with warm | | | | that lists all new and pending laws regarding balloons |
| water and dish soap to remove the coloring. End | | | | by state. Also the Asthma and Allergy Foundation |
| result will be a plastic clear balloon. Mylar and plastic | | | | of America and the American Latex Allergy |
| balloons are not biodegradable and are harmful to the | | | | Association both offer a wide realm of information |
| environment. Please do not release the balloons into | | | | and help on this subject. Run an internet search |
| the air! | | | | using the keyword: Non Latex Balloons. Even the |
| Small vinyl balloons (less than 4 to 4.5 feet in size) will | | | | FAA and local cities have new laws regarding |
| not float, however there are large polyurethane | | | | balloons. |
| inflatable balloons in different shapes that can be | | | | This material is for information purposes only. |