Recurring concern
Uncontrolled public access to helium products
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Request correctionFirst reported 20 Nov 2013•Latest report 23 Oct 2023
What this concern includes
Includes failures to restrict, regulate, warn about or otherwise control public access to helium-filled balloons, helium canisters and comparable helium products when the asserted safety concern is the risk created by unrestricted availability or purchase.
Not included
- Excludes helium-cylinder valve, gas-volume and other product-design controls where public access is not the shared unsafe condition; these belong to the existing helium-canister safety-controls concern.
- Excludes general toxic-gas hazards and unrelated hazardous-substance sales where helium access is not the material concern.
- Excludes factual descriptions of helium-related deaths or helium toxicity without an asserted deficiency in access control, warning or regulation.
- Excludes general children's-venue supervision or product-labelling failures unless they directly concern uncontrolled public access to helium products.
- Reports
- 5
- Individual concerns
- 5
- Date range
- 2013–2023
- Stated actions
- 0
Distinct published reports
A report can raise multiple concerns
First to latest report issue date
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
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Concerns raised1
Unrestricted availability of helium-filled balloons at children's entertainment venues
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Ready availability of helium for purchase
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Lack of controls on individual helium canister purchase quantities
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Position
Evidence that even small amounts of helium can cause death means controls on availability would be ineffective.
Stated by Department of Health and Social Care
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Concerns raised1
Unrestricted sale of helium gas canisters to the general public
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Position
The earlier departmental response remains pertinent and is considered to fully address the concerns regarding helium gas and suicide.
Stated by Department of Health and Social Care
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Concerns raised1
Unrestricted sale of Helium canisters to the general public
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Data last updated 7 September 2026