Environment & Energy

OKIsItJustMe

(21,877 posts)

32. I hate to uh… burst your balloon… but…

Tue Jun 28, 2016, 01:29 PM

Jun 2016

Helium is in short supply.

https://www.bma.org.uk/connecting-doctors/b/work/posts/mri-scanners-or-balloons-the-helium-debate-takes-off

[font face=Serif][font size=5]MRI scanners or balloons? The helium debate takes off[/font]

[font size=3]When they’ve called for action against tobacco and alcohol misuse, doctors have got used to being called ‘killjoys’ by some sections of the population. When the public health case is so strong, it’s easy to shrug off the label.

But balloons are not the same as cigarettes, and the vote at last week’s BMA annual representative meeting to campaign for a ban on the ‘frivolous’ use of helium conjures up an image of sad children leaving parties empty-handed.

Anaesthetist Tom Dolphin’s impassioned call got off with a bang as he popped an (air-filled) balloon at the ARM podium. But it was his words that really won him attention.

He said: ‘This invaluable, irreplaceable gas is being literally handed to children in balloons so they can be entertained for a few minutes until they get bored and let go.

…[/font][/font]

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

35 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Helium discovery a 'game-changer' [View all] nitpicker Jun 2016 OP

I've done tech support for research PhDs JonathanRackham Jun 2016 #1

Also widely used as a carrier gas in Gas Chromatography. nt BumRushDaShow Jun 2016 #13

Does that mean more of this... liberal N proud Jun 2016 #2

So, is that the same helium I see in balloons? fasttense Jun 2016 #3

Yes, it is. n/t paleotn Jun 2016 #4

I was mixing up too wallyworld2 Jun 2016 #20

No. Helium is invisible, so you don't see it in balloons or otherwise. Orrex Jun 2016 #5

amazing isn't it. We have known about helium shortages for a long time rurallib Jun 2016 #8

Exactly what I was thinking fasttense Jun 2016 #12

Sadly, foresight and resource husbandry are not widely practiced. Surya Gayatri Jun 2016 #14

Just you keep yer fukin hands off my party balloons. Hoppy Jun 2016 #19

God forbid the kids should have to make do with party snappers instead... Surya Gayatri Jun 2016 #25

Scientists have called for it to be rationed muriel_volestrangler Jun 2016 #16

helium 4 is not that rare. drray23 Jun 2016 #29

Thank you much rurallib Jun 2016 #31

I hate to uh… burst your balloon… but… OKIsItJustMe Jun 2016 #32

Blame congress (No! Really!) OKIsItJustMe Jun 2016 #34

well here's another heaven05 Jun 2016 #6

My first thought, too. Atman Jun 2016 #9

+1000 heaven05 Jun 2016 #10

Man... So, in the long run... Helen Borg Jun 2016 #7

Peak helium. Nt hughee99 Jun 2016 #24

Given my understanding of the element jimlup Jun 2016 #11

it is produced in the earth by radioactive decay. ret5hd Jun 2016 #15

it is - an 'alpha particle' is a helium nucleus muriel_volestrangler Jun 2016 #17

Thanks jimlup Jun 2016 #18

Lighten up. JonathanRackham Jun 2016 #27

well lets replace the helium in kiddy balloons with hydrogen like they used to use in zepplins dembotoz Jun 2016 #21

Float them around the birthday cake and we'll find out... Lochloosa Jun 2016 #22

Yeah... that's the ticket! yourpaljoey Jun 2016 #23

... CentralMass Jun 2016 #26

The Earth has infinite resources, it's a really big place. If not, technology will come along and Dustlawyer Jun 2016 #28

Good news, but it's not a game changer; it just kicks the can down the road (nt) LongtimeAZDem Jun 2016 #30

Just in the nick of time!!! It's also used in GliderGuider Jun 2016 #33

I would be for rationing rather than environmental destruction. glinda Jun 2016 #35