You know those big metallic balloons they sell at grocery stores? The Mylar balloons they have right next to all the flowers? They’ve got silly cartoon characters printed on them, and seem like a good idea every time a birthday comes around. But it turns out you need to ignore that impulse.

A family in Portland were throwing a birthday party for the father, complete with a few of the large metallic balloons. Their eight year old daughter eventually went to bed, still playing with it. And why not? It’s just a balloon.

The problem is, these balloons are made of nylon and are full of helium. And while no one was around the little girl when it happened, the end result is still the same – when her father went to check on her, she wasn’t breathing. Despite administering CPR and immediately calling the ambulance, the girl died.

It’s a heartbreaking story, and one that every parent should know. Learn more about the tragedy here.

Read the Full Article: Parents speak out after accident with birthday balloon claims 8-year-old