Preventing Eye Injuries

Over one million people suffer eye injuries each year in the United States. Almost 50% of these accidents occur at home, and 90% of them could have been prevented.

Prevention is the first and most important step in avoiding eye injuries.

In the house - Everyday products can sometimes cause burns when they touch the eyes. Make sure that all spray nozzles are directed away from you before you pull the handle. Read instructions carefully before using cleaning fluids, detergents, ammonia or harsh chemicals. Wash your hands thoroughly after use. Use grease shields on frying pans to protect from spattering. Wear safety goggles to shield your eyes from fumes and splashes when using powerful chemicals. Use opaque goggles to avoid burns from sunlamps.

In the Workshop - Many objects can fly into your eyes unexpectedly and cause injury. Think about the work you will be doing, and protect your eyes from flying fragments, fumes, dust particles, sparks and splashing chemicals before you begin work. Read instructions thoroughly before using tools and chemicals and follow precautions for their use. Protect yourself by wearing safety glasses.

Around children - Toys and games can be dangerous when used incorrectly. Pay attention to your child's age and responsibility level when you buy toys and games. Avoid projectile toys such as darts, pellet guns, etc., which can hit the eye from a distance. Supervise children when they are playing with toys or games that can be dangerous. Teach children the correct way to handle items such as scissors and pencils. BB and pellet guns should be considered as dangerous as regular firearms.

In the garden - Garden tools and chemicals are the cause of many outdoor eye injuries. Keep everyone away when you use a lawnmower. Don't let anyone stand on the side or in front when you mow the lawn. Pick up rocks and stones before going over them with your lawnmower. Stones can shoot out of the rotary blades, rebound off the curbs or walls and cause severe eye injuries. Wear safety glasses while mowing. Avoid low hanging branches. Make sure that pesticide spray-can nozzles are directed away from your face. Wear safety glasses while using powered weed trimmers. They nylon cord can break loose and hit the eye. Keep all safety guards in place and keep others at a safe distance.

Around the car - Sparks and fumes can ignite rapidly and explode. Battery acid can cause serious eye injury. Put out all cigarettes and matches before opening the hood of the car. Use a flashlight - not a match or lighter - to look at the battery at night. Keep protective goggles with your jumper cables and wear them. Wear protective goggles for auto body repairs when grinding metal or striking metal against metal. When you jump-start a car: Make sure the cars are not touching each other; Be sure the jumper cable clamps never touch each other. Never lean over the battery when attaching cables, Attach the positive cable (red) to the positive terminal of the dead battery first, then attach the other end of the positive cable to the good battery; Attach the negative terminal of the good battery, then attach the other end of the negative cable to a grounded area on the engine away from the negative terminal of the dead battery. Never attach a cable to the negative terminal of the dead battery.

In sports - Sports and recreational activities cause more than 31,000 eye injuries each year. Wear protective safety glasses, especially for sports such as tennis, racquetball, squash, baseball and basketball. Wear protective caps, helmets or face guards where appropriate, especially for sports such as ice hockey.

Around fireworks - All fireworks can be dangerous to people of all ages. Never allow children to light fireworks. Do not stand near others when lighting fireworks.

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rev. Sept. 2008

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