Safety and environmental information
Balloon safety
We want everyone to enjoy balloons as much as we do. However, as with many things, balloons need to be used responsibly. Please take a few moments to read the information below.
Surprisingly, latex balloons cause more choking deaths than balls, marbles, or other small toy parts.
In addition to choking or aspirating on broken balloon pieces, some children actually suck in uninflated balloons while trying to blow them up. Whilst others swallow balloons they were sucking or chewing on.
Part of the reason that so many children choke on balloons may be that parents underestimate the choking hazard from latex balloons, especially to older children.
Balloons and pieces of broken balloons can easily sucked into the throat and lungs. In addition balloons are also very hard to remove from a child’s mouth or throat because of their smooth, slippery texture. Usual first-aid methods, like back slaps, the Heimlich maneuver (abdominal thrusts), or finger sweeps of the child’s mouth often do not work.
Of course, that does not mean that kids can not play with balloons anymore. Just be safe and recognise that they can be a hidden danger if your kids are not supervised.
Although most toys with small parts are labeled as being a choking hazard to children under the age of 3 years if they have small parts, it is important to remember the warning label that should be present on balloon packages:
- Choking Hazard: Children under the age of 8 years can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons. Adult supervision required. Keep uninflated balloons from children. Discard broken balloons at once.
To be safe, parents should:
- Dispose of any plastic bags and packaging attachments associated with the balloons.
- Read all instructions and warnings before using the balloons.
- Supervise children under the age of 8 years if they play with uninflated balloons.
- Collect and discard all pieces of a broken balloon as soon as it breaks.
- Inflate balloons using a pump, away from the face and eyes.
We only sell latex balloons. A small number of people can become allergic to the latex proteins which can trigger allergic reactions. This happens because the immune system reacts to the latex proteins as if they were harmful. This over reaction is called ‘allergic hypersensitivity’ and latex is the ‘allergen’ (substance that causes the allergy).
The commonest symptom of a latex allergy is ‘contact urticaria’ which means itch, redness and swelling (hives) of the skin that is in contact with a latex item. This typically affects the hands or the lips after blowing up a balloon. Sometimes a widespread reaction can develop at other body sites with swelling of the face, especially around the eyelids and lips.
Other symptoms may include sneezing and irritation of the nose and eyes with similar symptoms to hay fever and wheezing or breathing difficulty.
Rarely, a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis can occur, with dizziness, low blood pressure, feeling faint, breathing difficulty, swelling of the throat and collapse.
The most important aspect of managing latex allergy is to avoid direct contact with latex items.
Balloons can burst producing a very loud noise. It is recommended to protect your's and other people's hearing should you be intentionally bursting balloons. Ear protection such as ear plugs or ear defenders are readily available online and in most hardware stores.
We have also summarised balloon safety related to their intended use in a risk assessment below:
Balloon environmental impact
Members of the balloon industry share concerns about the environmental impacts of marine debris. The controversy continues however about the actual level of risk or harm to marine life from balloon litter.
The Pro Environment Balloon Alliance (PEBA) is driving environmentally responsible change and is committed to reducing balloon litter and any potential effects on wildlife by eliminating the deliberate release of balloons.
Balance is required to develop policies that are environmentally responsible, are commensurate with the actual level of impact and do not unnecessarily deprive balloon artists and small business owners of their livelihoods.
It is commonly misreported that balloons are one of the top three threats to wildlife however balloons make up only a small fraction of marine debris.
According to Ocean Conservancy estimates, balloons make up about 0.7% of all debris items collected in coastal clean up campaigns. PEBA's international influence will continue to reduce this further.
We only sell latex balloons.
Latex balloons are not plastic, they are a plant-based product made from natural rubber. Natural Latex comes from Rubber Tree Plantations which are a renewable resource.
Leading manufacturers source their latex from sustainable Rainforest Alliance Certified and Forest Stewardship Council Plantations.
The Rainforest Alliance are an international, non-profit organisation working to build strong forests, healthy agricultural landscapes and thriving communities through creative and pragmatic collaboration.
By choosing to use Balloon Professionals and Artists who use latex balloons as their medium of expression, you are making an environmentally and economically responsible choice.
We are proud and active members of the Pro Environment Balloon Alliance (PEBA).
As members we are committed to the responsible use and disposal of balloons.
PEBA is the worlds largest balloon industry association formed in July 2017 to be an advocacy body to promote positive changes in balloon industry practices, community education, corporate governance and to be a consultative body for legislative policy relating to balloons.
We are committed to self-regulation and driving proactive, environmentally responsible change within the industry. PEBA members are industry professionals who do NOT support, condone or facilitate the organised release of balloons.
PEBA also supports us to educate our clients, venue managers and the public, by all possible means in the correct disposal of balloons through their "Don't Let it Go, Pin it & Bin it!" campaign.
Please visit PEBA's website for further information.
General Product Safety Regulation 2024
The General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) is a new key instrument in the EU product safety legal framework, replacing from 13 December 2024 the current General Product Safety Directive and the Food Imitating Product Directive. It modernises the EU general product safety framework and address the new challenges posed to product safety by the digitalisation of our economies.
The GPSR requires that all consumer products on the EU markets are safe and it establishes specific obligations for businesses to ensure it.
All of the balloons that we sell are CE marked as required under EU legislation. This marking demonstrates that they are in compliance with EU safety legislation and that they have been deemed to meet the required safety standards for their intended use.
Per the requirements of GPSR we are legally required to provide the EU representative details for the products which we sell.
Below are the links to the EU representative for each of the manufacturers for the balloons which we sell:
Belbal - www.belbal.com
Belbal Sp. z o.o.
ul. Skarszewska 1
83-110 Tczew, Rokitki
Poland
Email: info@belbal.com
Cattex - www.cattex.com
Cattex Di Catallo Benedetto & C. S.r.l.
Via Catallo 1
03034 Casalvieri
Italy
Email: info@cattex.com
Qualatex - https://europe.qualatex.com/en-gb/
Pioneer Benelux
Haven 1087
Keetberglaan 1
9120 Melsele
Netherlands
Email: pelmarketing@qualatex.com
Gemar - https://gemar.it
Gemar
Via Colle Marracone snc
03034 Casalvieri
Italy
Email: balloons@gemar.it
Globos Payaso - https://globospayaso.eu
ADIC Anglo Dutch Import Company BV
Margrietlaan 5
3947 ML
Langbroek
Netherlands
Email: info@globospayaso.com
Tons Of Fun Balloons & Partyware
Unit 1A, Polefield Business Park
The Rear, Dock Road
Limerick City
V94 1W99
Ireland
Email: Hello@tofballoons.ie
Global GPSR compliance is coordinated by the GPSR Compliance Officer at A Little Saxon Company Limited. Further details can be obtained by emailing us at general.balloon.ace@gmail.com.
Any balloons branded as 'Balloon Ace' balloons are manufactured by one of the above manufacturers. The manufacturer of the 'Balloon Ace' balloons is listed on the related product page.
The GPSR also requires enhanced labelling of products for all products sold in the EU. For safety related inventory tracking purposes we are required to allocate unique serial numbers to all products which we sell in the EU so that in the instance of a product recall we know who to initiate contact with. For the purposes of safety related inventory tracking we use invoice numbers as the serial numbers.
All data is handled in accordance with our privacy policy which can be accessed here.
Declaration of Conformity statements for all of our products are available upon request from the manufacturers.
All orders destined for delivery outside of the EU will be labelled in accordance with U.K. GPSR requirements.