| A flexible bag filled with helium, hydrogen, nitrous | | | | • Released balloons pose a serious hazard to |
| oxide or air is called a balloon. Dried animal | | | | animals through ingestion or entanglement. |
| bladders were used as early balloons. Rubber, | | | | • Latex balloons are dangerous to sea |
| latex, chloroprene or nylon fabrics are used to | | | | creatures. Its elasticity remains for 12 months or |
| make modern balloons. Though balloons are | | | | more when exposed to sea water. |
| decorative in nature it is used for meteorology, | | | | Art in balloons |
| medical treatment, military defence and even | | | | Sculpture balloons are made by balloon artists |
| transportation. | | | | who are entertainers. Hundreds of helium balloons |
| History | | | | are used to create balloon sculptures by |
| | | | decorators. They are commonly used as table |
| • Michael Faraday invented the rubber balloon | | | | decorations. To keep them from floating away a |
| in 1824. | | | | ribbon is curled and added with a weight. |
| • J. G. Ingram of London (1847) first | | | | Water balloons |
| manufactured latex balloons. Mass production | | | | These thin small rubber balloons which can be |
| started only in 1930. | | | | easily broken are used by children. |
| Balloons as decorative | | | | Rocket balloons These balloons are made by |
| Party balloons are made of natural latex, recycled | | | | releasing standard toy balloons into the air with |
| material such as old tyres and tennis shoes. The | | | | the mouth of the balloon left open. They can be |
| air is filled with the mouth, manual or electric | | | | used as alternatives to fire works. |
| inflator. Balloons filled with air hold their size and | | | | Flying Machines |
| shape longer when compared to helium filled | | | | Since the 18 th century large balloons filled with |
| balloons. To reduce helium leakage (to increase | | | | hot air or helium were used as flying machines. |
| float time to a week or longer) the interior of the | | | | The earliest flights used helium which was heated |
| balloons should be treated with a polymer solution. | | | | with a flame. |
| Foil balloons have attractive, shiny, reflective | | | | Balloons in medicine |
| surfaces printed with colour pictures for gifts and | | | | A surgical procedure in which very small balloons |
| parties. | | | | are inserted into blocked or partially blocked blood |
| Balloons and its hazards: | | | | vessels near the heart is called angioplasty. |
| | | | Catheters that have balloons at their tip to keep |
| • Foil balloons pose environmental hazards | | | | them from slipping out are called balloon catheters. |
| since the nylon used is not biodegradable. Power | | | | When the catheter is inserted into the urinary |
| outages are caused because released foil balloons | | | | bladder and secures its position the balloon of a |
| get entangled in power lines. | | | | Foley catheter is inflated. |