Alexandra Hope Kelly 7 year old Tennessee girl dies while popping birthday balloon at home. Mom, Channa Kelly warns of the dangers of helium balloons.
A seven-year-old Tennessee girl has died after suffocating from one of her birthday balloons – a large 34 inch rainbow Mylar number balloon inflated with helium while popping the party devices.
Alexandra Hope Kelly of Clinton, TN had just celebrated her seventh birthday on September 27 and was popping latex balloons a week later on October 1 when tragedy struck.
Mom, Channa Kelly was in the room with Alexandra making sure the young girl did not choke on the latex balloons. The child’s mom retired to her bedroom, while allowing Alexandra to continue playing with the Mylar ‘7’ balloon.
Killed by a birthday balloon
It wasn’t some time later that the mom came downstairs only to find the deflated Mylar ballon around Alexandra’s head.
The single mom removed the balloon, called 911 and immediately began CPR – which was taken over by emergency personnel as soon they arrived. In the end, Alexandra could not be saved.
‘That’s what took my baby, it was her birthday balloon,’ Kelly told WAFB. ‘It’s hard to comprehend.’
It is not yet known whether the 7 year old girl died from helium poisoning or suffocation. Her autopsy report is expected to come in four to six months.
Wrote Channa Kelly on Facebook: ‘For her birthday party, I bought a large 34 inch rainbow Mylar number 7 balloon inflated with helium, as seen below, along with approximately 10 Roblox themed latex balloons.
‘As a parent I was always aware of the choking hazard of latex balloons, but never imagined that there was such a risk regarding these very large Mylar helium filled balloons. A week after her birthday party, I sat with her as she popped all of her latex balloons.
‘Alex asked if she could pop her large 7 balloon and I said that was fine. I went to my bedroom unaware of any dangers with this type of balloon. I fell asleep briefly and when I woke up I found my daughter face down on the living room floor where I had left her.
‘I thought for a second that she fell asleep but then noticed the Mylar balloon was around her head. I quickly removed the balloon, called 911 and began CPR right away. I asked the 911 operators to remind of the steps of CPR because it had been so long since my last certification and I didn’t want to mess up.
‘A police officer arrived and took over CPR followed by firefighters and paramedics. They worked tirelessly to try to bring her back but their attempts to revive her were unsuccessful. I cried hysterically and was in utter shock and disbelief of what had just occurred, that my daughter and only child was actually gone.’
Balloons leading cause of suffocation death
Alexandra’s obituary says that she loved to sing, dance and do arts and crafts projects. Apart from her mother, she is survived by her grandparents, great-grandparents, aunt, uncle and cousins.
Her funeral was held on October 6 and guests were asked to wear blue, the girl’s favorite color.
According to US Consumer Product Safety Commission data, balloons are the leading cause of suffocation death. Children either end up sucking uninflated balloons into their mouths while attempting to inflate them or eat balloon pieces after they have been burst.
In both cases, balloons end up getting stuck in into their throat and lungs which completely blocks off their breathing.
Mylar balloons are made of NASA-developed nylon and coated in a metallic finish, making them more durable and ‘safer’.
But many a times due to the various shapes it is available in, children do not realize and end up sucking the helium out of the balloon which results in it deflating and covering their head.
Kelly also wrote in her post: ‘I hope by sharing our story that I can bring awareness and educate parents about the dangers of not only latex balloons but also Mylar balloons. I hope and pray that this will prevent and save the life of other children.’
