Toys 'R' Us Ad Campaign Riles Some

AP ^ | Fri Oct 31, 9:25 PM ET | JOE CAREY

[Jean S]

WASHINGTON - A Toys "R" Us television commercial that featured the company's mascot, Geoffrey the Giraffe, inhaling helium from a balloon has drawn the ire of anti-drug advocates who say the ad sends a dangerous message to children.

"Any portrayal of inhalant use is bad, especially when we're reaching out to younger children who are at most risk of abusing inhalants," Charles Curie, administrator for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, said Friday.

According to a 2002 Monitoring the Future Study, 15.2 percent of eighth-graders have used inhalants in their lifetime.

The ad campaign has finished its rotation and will not be reintroduced, Toys "R" Us spokesperson Susan McLaughlin said in a statement.

"Toys "R" Us takes the safety of our guests very seriously," McLaughlin said. "We would never encourage any behavior that would be dangerous in any way."

Inhaling helium has the effect of distorting the human voice. It also can displace oxygen in the blood and lead to unconsciousness and, in rare occasions, death.

Advocates are also concerned about the portrayal of "huffing" helium in other commercials, television shows and movies.

"The ingestion of helium is dangerous," and has resulted in deaths, said Harvey Weiss, executive director of the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition, a federally funded organization.

Weiss said he was inundated with complaints about the Toys "R" Us ad from parents, teachers, school nurses and substance abuse treatment workers, who also complained to the toy company.

"Maybe they heard what we had to say," Weiss said.

[Prime Choice]

Next thing you know, they'll want us to warn the kiddies not to come in any form of contact with Dihydrogen Monoxide.

That stuff kills loads of kids every year. We cannot be too cautious.

But in the meantime, I'm going to go buy a bunch of helium balloons and sing, "We represent the Lollipop Guild" just so I can p!ss off these idiot busybodies.

[mhking]

From She-who-must-be-obeyed: "Y'ever think that by raising a big stink about something that you might send a signal that it might make for a good drug with a good high?"

Just damn.

If you want on the new list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[Mears]

I don't know how we parents of the Boomers did it without all of these idiots telling us what was dangerous.

We used common sense and sent the kids outside to play as much as possible.

"Go out until the street lights come on" was our mantra and damn,those kids all grew up just fine.

[polemikos]

Helium Inhalation - Danger

While helium is chemically non-reactive, there are significant dangers
associated with casual use.

1 - Excess pressure
Not really an issue with party balloons, but more than one person has
inhaled helium directly from a highly pressurised industrial tank and died.
Damage to the lungs (ruptured air sacs) can cause internal bleeding.

2 - Contaminants
Party balloon and industrial tanks are not rated for human consumption.
There is likely to be significant particulate, liquid, and gaseous contaminants.

3 - Oxygen displacement
Exposure to oxygen-deficient atmosphere (<19.5%) may cause dizziness,
drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, excess salivation, diminished mental alertness,
loss of consciousness and death. Death can be caused by asphyxiation or
a blow to the head as the person keels over.

Peruse any of the numerous safety sheets for Helium on the web.
Also:
http://www.cganet.com/N2O/helium_safety.asp

[TheAngryClam]

Indeed.

[Tennessee_Bob]

Further proof that helium inhalation causes dain bramage... :)

[MattAMiller]

"Any portrayal of inhalant use is bad, especially when we're reaching out to younger children who are at most risk of abusing inhalants," Charles Curie, administrator for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, said Friday.

Shut up Charles.

[JoeSixPack1]

Peruse any of the numerous safety sheets for Helium on the web.

Why? Common sense usually weeds out the morons and the morons rejoice in speaking statistically without reference to sanity.

[StriperSniper]

Further proof that helium inhalation causes dain bramage... :)

Must not forget forum etiquette! ;-)

And geeze! It's not like Geoffrey was inhaling Freon out of the tank to get a rush, now that is dangerous if your not careful.

[aruanan]

Inhaling helium has the effect of distorting the human voice.

No, inhaling helium doesn't do this. Speaking in an atmosphere high in helium does. Helium shifts up the pitch of any sound.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

"Any portrayal of inhalant use is bad, especially when we're reaching out to younger children who are at most risk of abusing inhalants," Charles Curie, administrator for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, said Friday.

ZERO TOLERANCE = ZERO BRAINS

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The objectionable part of that commercial for me is that HOT AIR BALLOONS DON'T USE HELIUM.

[Moonman62]

It also can displace oxygen in the blood and lead to unconsciousness and, in rare occasions, death.

Helium is inert. How can it displace oxygen in the blood? I doubt that it binds to hemoglobin.

[steveo]

"Maybe they heard what we had to say," Weiss said (in high squeaky voice).

[Recovering_Democrat]

I'll compare what you've submitted to my own experience.

[polemikos]

Anecdotal Nonsense Bump

[Recovering_Democrat]

:-)

More like "real life vs. unnecessary fear" bump.

[Recovering_Democrat]

WARNING!!
KIDS! DO NOT INHALE HELIUM! OR YOU MIGHT TURN UP LIKE THIS POOR FELLOW...LET'S CALL HIM "TED":

[polemikos]

Scientific studies confirm that Russian Roulette
is completely safe in over 83% of all tests!

[Alouette]

Helium may be funny when inhaled, but lets not forget that it's explosive.

Helium is an inert gas. You are probably thinking of hydrogen.