Helium balloons - what are the dangers of the gas, the consequences?

Is helium harmful to humans?

People try to order helium balloons most often for children's parties. But in most cases, they do not even think about the fact that this volatile substance belongs to the fourth class of danger. The gas is low-toxic, but we cannot call it completely harmless.

Helium at normal atmospheric pressure, when released into the human body in relatively small quantities, acts like anesthesia.

When inhaled, the gas greatly alters the voice. Have you heard clowns, entertainers and just young people inhaling it talk funny? Would you say it's hilarious? Absolutely! But, alas, not harmless. When you inhale this volatile chemical, your voice becomes funny because it affects the vocal cords - they thin out.

Therefore, if you bought helium balloons for the holiday to the child, watch carefully so that children do not begin to experiment with their contents. After all, these decorative balloons are filled with, suffocating gas. It can displace oxygen from the body, causing oxygen starvation of all organs. The consequences of prolonged inhalation can become intoxication, poisoning of varying severity.

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Signs of intoxication

Helium vapor can affect the respiratory and nervous system. Signs of oxygen deficiency if this gas enters the lungs are:

• lethargy;
• drowsiness;
• difficulty breathing (especially on exhalation);
• absence or impairment of the sense of touch;
• a diminished acuity of hearing, vision;
• tremors.

This chemical element is especially dangerous for asthmatics and people with lung and bronchial diseases.

Effects on the nervous system can be mild, moderate and severe.

Mild intoxication may result in headache, sore throat, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. The person may have dark eyes and reduced ability to concentrate.

Moderate intoxication is characterized by shortness of breath, turning the skin blue, confusion, palpitations, and fainting. Severe intoxication is characterized by loss of consciousness and convulsions. All this can end fatally.