can you be harmed from sucking the helium out of baloons?

Question

iv always wondered this

Answer 1

Yes, helium can replace oxygen and you can't breath oxygen.
You won't get poisoned like breathing Carbon Monoxide though.

There is a on line site called the Darwin Awards and one of the 'winners' was a couple who had sex inside of a helium balloon and died from the lack of oxygen. The Darwin Awards are given out to people who are so stupid and through their nominated action remove themselves from the gene pool, hopefully before they have had a chance to pass on their stupid genes.

So with this as an example; yes breathing helium from a balloon can harm you, unless you take the time to breathe in oxygen.

When you breathe in helium your vocal cords are tightened and your voice raises and sounds like Mickey Mouse is talking. Deep Sea divers use a helium oxygen mix to dive deep and avoid getting the bends from nitrogen bubbles. So breathing helium for a long period is not a problem UNLESS you forget to breathe in oxygen.

Answer 2

Does Helium Harm You

Answer 3

Not out of a balloon but if you sucked in a lot of helium it would probably hurt you from lack of oxygen.

Answer 4

yes. Its called asphyxiation. The helium displaces oxygen. No oxygen - bad things can happen.

Answer 5

my mother knew someone who died from sucking helium in excessive amounts..

however, this was from a huge helium tank...

the helium in a balloon is such a small amount that it doesnt harm you...

Answer 6

Excessive inhalation of anything other than good old air can have serious consequences related to oxygen deprivation.

Answer 7

Dan S. hit on all the best points this answer needed and deserves the points.