Do you let your kids inhale helium from a balloon? Why that’s a bad idea...

It’s a popular party trick. Inhaling helium and talking in that funny voice. 

But that trick can be dangerous and even deadly. While death from inhaling it is rare, helium is not harmless. Inhaling helium displaces oxygen from the lungs and can damage lung tissue, especially in young children. Taking helium directly from the canister is even more risky. 

It’s important to discuss the dangers of helium with children and avoid sending the wrong message by doing it yourself. Repeated inhaling over a short period of time can do some serious damage and even result in cardiac arrest.