When you’re a parent, you come to learn that there are dangers lurking around every corner, which is why it’s so important for grieving families to share their stories and experiences with others.
One such family are the McGloghlans from Portland, US, who recently lost their eight-year-old daughter Jaina in an accident involving a helium balloon.
According to various reports, the McGloghlans had celebrated a birthday party in the house on the day, and it was dad Mike who discovered his daughter unconscious in her bed.
Mike's mother, Pat, told local media: “My son went in to check on her, and all he saw was a foot sticking out of her bed. Then he took the covers off and found the balloon on her head. He put her on the floor and cut the balloon off her head. He started CPR and we called 911.”
Explaining what fire fighters think may have occurred in Jaina’s bedroom, Pat added: “It was a big mylar balloon, the number three, and it had different sized fill-holes. The only think we can think is that she would have opened it to suck the helium out, and put it over her head.”
Tragically, emergency responders were not able to save Jaina. The little girl’s death has since been ruled an accident, and authorities have confirmed that there will be no further investigation.
The family told local media that they have chosen to share their story in a bid to raise awareness over the dangers of letting children play with helium balloons unsupervised.
