A Belgian Valentine’s Day Present
A Belgian "oxygen bar" has decided to replace the traditional Valentine's Day gift of chocolate and flowers with something more lasting: brain damage and asphyxiation! They are encouraging people to replace their oxygen with a hefty snort of helium to pledge undying love to one another in squeaky voices. Which is funny right up until the real dying part kicks in.
"Valentine's Day is a special day for couples but its possible to have a party with just two. I wanted to make a different kind of party. Also people who are alone can come here and have some fun," said Gerard Bazzone, co-owner of the Pure Bar.
But patrons should be wary of pledging undying love repeatedly as too much helium can cause asphyxiation.
This is one of those stunts that just makes you shake your head. It really is incredibly dangerous to do things like this. I guess I'm surprised that the bar's insurance company hasn't gone psychotic on them. Or that the health authorities haven't stepped in.
Dumb Stuff, World news | Gaius Wednesday, 14 February , 2007
By Chet, Wednesday, 14 February , 2007 @ 10:49 am
You have to breathe pure helium for several minutes to put yourself at risk. Your criticisms here don’t seem medically sound.
Party tricks like snorting a balloon or a quick burst from an oxygen mask don’t put you at any risk. It’s impossible to displace the oxygen in your lungs with just a quick burst.
By Sarah Rolph, Wednesday, 14 February , 2007 @ 10:34 pm
Sure, Chet, no chance someone in a bar might overindulge in a substance, eh?
By Chet, Thursday, 15 February , 2007 @ 9:02 am
Sure, Chet, no chance someone in a bar might overindulge in a substance, eh?
You’d pass out and drop the mask before you’d inhaled enough to asphyxiate yourself. We’re not talking about “having one too many”; asphyxiation by helium takes some pretty elaborate preparations.
By kim, Thursday, 15 February , 2007 @ 11:54 am
Never, ever, hotbox a gas.
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By bazzoni, Sunday, 25 February , 2007 @ 12:41 pm
first I’m sorry for my english..
I’m the Pure bar’s boss.
Helium can be not toxic it’s just depend how you use it.
I’m a professional, and you have to know than we use helium in many occasions, for example sub diver use helium went they want to go deeper.
it’s right than helium alone during several minutes can be toxic, it’s for that if one day you want to play with helium you have to prepare many little ballons, each ballon must be the equivalent of one breefing, that’s all.
thank’s to all, I hope to meet you one day in my bar,
see you,
Gerald