Six year old seriously burned as graduation balloon explodes in car

[webfact]

Six year old seriously burned as graduation balloon explodes in car

 

Picture: Manager Online

 

A six year old boy is in a serious condition in hospital in Nakorn Pathom after suffering 50% burns to his body.

 

Athip Rattanawongkasem was on the back seat of a Toyota Wish. He was clutching a fancy balloon that was to be used as decoration at a graduation function. 

 

The balloon exploded as the driver of the car - 37 year old Banthitkarn Unjai was driving along Thesa Road in Muang district. She was heading to Silapakorn University after picking up some gifts from friends of a relative who was graduating. 

 

Picture: Manager Online

 

She said she had just removed a phone charger when the balloon exploded. 

 

Both she and passenger Ploi Rungsaeng, 20, suffered burns to both arms. 

 

The driver pulled over and a trader rushed forward with water to extinguish flames that were threatening to burn out the car. 

 

All ended up in hospital by the time rescue foundation staff had arrived. 

 

Witnesses said they saw a flash in the car.

 

An investigation is underway to find out what happened and what the balloon was filled with. 

 

Source: Manager Online

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2019-01-03

[keith101]

If the baloon had a small leak and there was a spark from removing the phone charger very possible this would cause the baloon to explode .

[JimP]

Hope the kid makes a full recovery.  What bullshit is this where an explosive gas fills a balloon?  <deleted> idiots.

[Stocky]

If the balloon was filled with hydrogen rather than helium quite possible.

[Rimmer]

Troll post removed

[sammieuk1]

That made me feel a bit sick as my lad often has a balloon in the car shocking . I will have to add this to my 1001 unusual ways to die here ,right now Syria seams safer????

[KittenKong]

22 minutes ago, Stocky said:

If the balloon was filled with hydrogen rather than helium quite possible.

Last I heard helium is about three times the price of hydrogen, so no great mystery there.

[rvaviator]

Last I heard helium is about three times the price of hydrogen, so no great mystery there.

Think Hindenburg ....


Sent from my iPad using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Enoon]

1 hour ago, Stocky said:

If the balloon was filled with hydrogen rather than helium quite possible.

 

But more likely it was butane/propane from an ordinary domestic cylinder.

 

Basically handing over a bomb to a child.

 

See "Fancy" balloon ignition,flare and explosion (13 secs in):

 

Butane Filled Balloons - YouTube

 

I guess the balloon flared and blow-torched the seat/child.

 

 

 

Edited January 3, 2019 by Enoon

[KittenKong]

8 minutes ago, Enoon said:

But more likely it was butane/propane from an ordinary domestic cylinder.

Both are heavier than air, so rather unlikely.

 

If you dont need your balloons to float then you can just blow them up with air and save money.

[Enoon]

4 minutes ago, KittenKong said:

Both are heavier than air, so rather unlikely.

 

If you dont need your balloons to float then you can just blow them up with air and save money.

 

Was the balloon actually floating?

 

Domestic gas is cheap as chips.

 

And requires no blowing.

 

So it is the cheapest option that requires least effort.

 

You do the "math".......Thai-style.

 

 

[lopburi3]

Hydrogen was the normal gas used here in the 60-70's and many people lost their lives due to explosions in confined areas (bars did not allow but at least a few, and people, were destroyed by customers bringing in).  It is not only cost but availability.  

[HarrySeaman]

31 minutes ago, Enoon said:

 

Was the balloon actually floating?

 

Domestic gas is cheap as chips.

 

And requires no blowing.

 

So it is the cheapest option that requires least effort.

 

You do the "math".......Thai-style.

 

 

Butane (2.5 kg/m³) is what is used in cigarette lighters and is more dense than air (1.293 kg/m³) so a balloon filled with it would not float.  Butane is flammable.

 

Propane (1.8982 kg/m³) is sold as bottled gas the USA for cooking and heating gas in the USA.  If you have a gas Bar-B-Q in the USA it will be using propane.  Propane is more dense than air so a balloon filled with it would not float.  Propane is flammable.

 

Methane (0.717 kg/m³) is piped around much of the the USA for heating and cooking.  In Thailand it is sold for cooking and for transportation.  It is less dense than air so a balloon filled with it might float if the balloon was light enough.  Methane is flammable.

 

Hydrogen has a density of 0.0899 kg/m³ vs helium at 0.1785 kg/m³ so it would be the optimum gas for making balloons float except for the fact that it is flammable while helium is not flammable.

 

Chances are some idiot tried to save a make a few extra Bt by filling the balloons with flammable methane or flammable hydrogen instead of non-flammable helium, which is much more expensive than either methane or hydrogen.

 

[connda]

3 hours ago, keith101 said:

If the baloon had a small leak and there was a spark from removing the phone charger very possible this would cause the baloon to explode .

Helium is inert and does not explode.  Acetylene?  Hydrogen?  Lord!  Whoever is responsible needs to be severely sanctioned and re-educated.  

 

 

Edited January 3, 2019 by connda

[KittenKong]

1 hour ago, Enoon said:

Was the balloon actually floating?

It was a fancy decorative balloon for a party, and those often float.

 

1 hour ago, Enoon said:

Domestic gas is cheap as chips.

And requires no blowing.

So it is the cheapest option that requires least effort.

A tyre pump is even cheaper.

 

I just cant see why anyone would go to the trouble/expense of filling a balloon with anything but air unless they wanted it to float.

[Grusa]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

She said she had just removed a phone charger when the balloon exploded. 

More likely she or someone else was smoking.`

[HerbalEd]

4 hours ago, Enoon said:

 

Was the balloon actually floating?

 

Domestic gas is cheap as chips.

 

And requires no blowing.

 

So it is the cheapest option that requires least effort.

 

You do the "math".......Thai-style.

 

 

The gas is not cheaper than atmospheric air -- the stuff you're breathing in right now.

[CliffH]

Sounds like some clown's hit on the idea of using water electrolysis to fill balloons.

[8OA8]

4 hours ago, KittenKong said:

It was a fancy decorative balloon for a party, and those often float.

 

A tyre pump is even cheaper.

 

I just cant see why anyone would go to the trouble/expense of filling a balloon with anything but air unless they wanted it to float.

I remember seeing them in Patong Beach filling their balloons by holding them over the exhaust pipe of the motorcycle and sitting outside the bar with the bike revved until the job was done. I also saw a guy wearing a white shirt using his cigarette to burst the balloons on the ceiling above him and the black condensation from the exhaust pipe landing on his nice white shirt.  

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, connda said:

Helium is inert and does not explode.  Acetylene?  Hydrogen?  Lord!  Whoever is responsible needs to be severely sanctioned and re-educated.  

 

 

Imprisoned comes to mind

 

[Classic Ray]

What’s the cheapest gas to fill it with to make it float? Hydrogen. End of thought about consequences, cheap and easy rules.

 

If no one can be bothered to buy their child a car seat or a crash helmet, why would they think about safety with balloons?

[Damrongsak]

9 hours ago, Enoon said:

... But more likely it was butane/propane from an ordinary domestic cylinder...

Based on density vs. air or butane/propane, it was more likely natural gas or methane if it wasn't hydrogen.  That is assuming it was supposed to be lighter than air.

 

Also found this:

 

Methane (density 0.716 g/L at STP, average molecular mass 16.04 g/mol) is the chief component of natural gas and is sometimes used as a lift gas when hydrogen and helium are not available. It has the advantage of not leaking through balloon walls as rapidly as the small-moleculed hydrogen and helium. Many lighter-than-air balloons are made of aluminized plastic that limits such leakage; hydrogen and helium leak rapidly through latex balloons.

Edited January 3, 2019 by Damrongsak

[Prairieboy]

18 hours ago, webfact said:

trader rushed forward with water to extinguish flames that were threatening to burn out the car. 

Save the car don't worry about the 6 year old boy.  Get your priorities straight.

 

I will never again buy a pre-inflated balloon!  Using a flammable gas is unforgivable!