From: RLBMagic@aol.com
Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2000 00:03:15 EST
Subject: Helium inhalation, again
To: balloon@balloonhq.com

I'm curious. While there is a proposed mechanism for injury being presented 
below, does anyone know of any statistics showing that this has ever actually 
happened? If so, are there any details available? In other words, how many 
breaths of helium does it take? How many seconds without oxygen? Has it ever 
happened with just one breath of helium? 

It is easy to either dismiss warnings as irrelevant because no one we know 
(including ourselves) has ever been hurt this way; it is also easy to be 
alarmist and dismiss all helium inhalation as definitely harmful. I'm 
guessing, without any proof to back me up, that a breath of helium leading to 
perhaps 30-60 seconds without fresh oxygen is not harmful. Certainly not 
healthy, but few people don't like chocolate, which isn't healthy either. 
Could it be that a little won't hurt?

An industry like the Compressed Gas Association would *have* to take the 
stance below. I'm sure their lawyers told them that to do otherwise would be 
inviting lawsuits from nincompoops who repeatedly inhale helium until they 
pass out. Federal Express apparently either felt the risk is too low, or 
simply didn't think to take it into account.

Richard (Talk about an air head) Berman

<<"you may lose consciousness quickly and without warning-you may literally 
pass out while still standing. The usual result is an uncontrolled fall that 
can cause serious injury, even if normal breathing resumes before brain 
damage occurs due to lack of oxygen."
Quoted from the Compressed Gas Association website. >>