A 7-year-old girl from Clinton, Tennessee, died from suffocation caused by a mylar balloon while popping her birthday balloons at home.
This incident has prompted her mother, Channa Kelly, to raise awareness about the potential dangers of balloons to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The incident occurred on October 1, 2023 when Alexandra Hope Kelly was at home, popping latex and mylar balloons from her birthday celebration. However, a large 34-inch foil “7” balloon, purchased for Alexandra’s birthday, became a fatal hazard when the mother briefly fell asleep. Upon her return, Channa Kelly found her daughter face down on the floor, with the popped mylar balloon around her head. CPR initiated by Ms. Kelly, and later by EMS, could not revive the girl.
In response to the incident, Channa Kelly has been actively communicating the dangers of balloons, especially mylar ones, in an effort to inform other parents and prevent future tragedies. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has also provided data showing that balloons are the leading cause of child deaths by suffocation among all children’s products.
The commission offers guidance on balloons and child safety, advising that children under the age of eight should not be allowed to play with uninflated balloons without adult supervision. While fully inflated balloons are not considered hazardous, the commission recommends that if a balloon breaks, the remnants should be collected immediately and kept out of reach of young children to prevent any choking hazards.
The local police in Clinton, Tennessee, are currently investigating the incident. It could take as long as six months for definitive results on cause of death, whether helium poisoning or suffocation, to be available.
