As Valentine’s Day fast approaches and heart shaped  balloon sales go up, SDG&E is reminding customers to keep their beloved balloons close to their hearts and away from power lines.

Mylar balloons are colorful, festive decorations. The metallic coating that gives them their bright color is also what can cause a power outage if it makes contact with a power line.

Around this time every year, there is a surge in Mylar balloon incidents with the electrical system, which is why SDG&E is asking that everyone do their part to help prevent Mylar balloon-related outages by following a few easy-to-follow tips:

• Keep your Mylar balloons indoors.
• If your Valentine’s Day festivities take you outdoors, keep your balloons securely fastened or attached to a weight.
• When the fun is done, dispose of a Mylar balloon by fully deflating it so that it doesn’t get loose and float away. Partially-inflated Mylar balloons can easily become airborne.
• If you notice a Mylar balloon, or any object, entangled in an overhead power line, please call 9-1-1 or SDG&E at 800-411-7343. Do not try to remove it yourself.

Over the past five years, Mylar balloons have been identified as the cause of more than 500 power outages to our region’s electrical system.