June is the time of year when outdoor spaces get crowded with drones, kites and metallic foil balloons. PSEG Long Island would like to remind their customers that any of these objects can become entangled in overhead electric equipment and cause a host of problems. Click here to watch a video demonstrating the effects of metallic balloons when they come into contact with electrical wires.
To mitigate these risks, PSEG Long Island encourages everyone to follow these safety guidelines:
- Fly your drone at below 400 feet and not in dark, stormy or windy conditions.
- Keep your drones at least 200 feet away from power lines or other electrical equipment.
- Read and follow the drone manufacturer’s instructions to ensure the safety of your drone and people around you.
- Never fly kites or balloons in the rain or during an electrical storm.
- Never cross a road or street while flying a kite or holding a balloon.
- Kites and Mylar balloons should be kept away from overhead power lines and equipment, and never purposely released into the air.
- All balloons with helium should be secured to weights that prevent them from floating away.
- To properly dispose of a Mylar balloon, safely puncture it in several places to release the
- helium, and discard it in the trash.
- Do not attempt to retrieve a balloon, kite, drone or anything caught in an overhead power line. Report it by contacting PSEG Long Island at 800-490-0075 so a specially trained crew can safely address the issue.