Save a life: Stop using helium in décor

I got serious very fast. But here’s the reality of the situation: helium shortages are severe, and they will not improve. At least, not without significant technological advancement and a trip to Jupiter.

This article goes over why helium is important to the rest of the world, and what you can do instead of using helium.

Here’s where helium is irreplaceable (there is no substitute!):

• Medical applications

  • MRI’s

  • Lasers used in eye surgery

  • Cardiopulmonary resuscitation pumps

• National defense systems

  • From surveillance balloons to missile guidance systems

•  Search and rescue

  • Some thermographic cameras require helium cooling

• Gas leak detection

• Cutting-edge science & research

• Scuba gear air mixtures

• Arc welding

• Fundamental tools for creating electronics

I saw the shortage’s effects firsthand at one of my former workplaces: researchers were told, “Sorry, there’s no helium for your team. We need to reserve what we have for only the most critical operations until we can find another supply.” This left many teams dead in the water for many months.

The shortage lies in that we can only access helium from natural gas mining. But the thing is, those helium sources are becoming depleted. Helium floats- it floats up, up, and away into outer space, never to be seen again on Earth.

The only way we can get more helium is if we get it from somewhere else in our solar system, which will take many, many years to start doing.

Until then – please – I implore you to stop using helium for decorations.

There are helium-free balloon alternatives that look equally amazing if not more so, and don’t have the high pricetag of helium itself! Look them up, I promise they look cool!

Balloon arches don’t need helium, so that’s a good option too.

The world will thank you.

I will thank you.

With love,

Katie Sautter

Source: www.blm.gov/programs/energy-and-minerals/helium/about-helium