Balloon safety focus of parade task force

NEW YORK (AP) - The city said Tuesday it plans to tighten safety procedures for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade after two spectators were injured last year by a giant balloon that got caught on a street lamp.

The new rules were recommended by a task force.

The accident happened in Times Square, where tethers from the M&M’s Chocolate Candies balloon became entangled on the head of a street lamp. Two sisters were hit by the debris and suffered cuts and bruises.

Among its recommendations, the task force said adjustments should be made to the formula for assessing safe passage of each balloon.

In 1997, two people were seriously hurt as a Cat in the Hat balloon slammed into a metal pole.

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