Eye protection essential

Waimarino Bulletin, Issue 6, 26 August 1988, Page 3 (Supplement)

Eye protection essential

Among your sense organs, the eyes are most vulnerable to injury, and homes are one of the most dangerous in regard to eye injury. Awareness is the key - knowing how to prevent accidents and knowing what to do in an emergency, and avoid causing permanent visual impairment. The risk of permanent visual loss from an eye

injury is always great - but often greatest when the injury occurs a t home without the fast assistance available in industry and organised sport. Most of the risks to the eyes in and around the home occur with four types of accidents: • Flying particles, especially sharp edged objects • Sharp, hot or corrosive items like the

corner of a piece of paper, detergents, fat, glue, paint, cigarette burns, and fireworks • Hitting something or being hit - for example the edge of a door, a ball, a stone thrown from a motor mower, and some childrens toys. • Falling or tripping - on one floor lcvel or from stairs, steps, ladders, roofs, and trees. Reduce or eliminate hazards which can cause accidents from falling, tripping, slipping, striking against objects and falling objects. Cupboards and cabinet doors should be shut, childrens toys put away after play. rooms and corridors should be tidy and well lit. Eliminate the hazards of chemicals, «-orrosives and detergents . These substances should be stored in proper containers and put away in cupboards away from children. Read instructions carefully before opening containers and do not transfer contents to unlabelled containers. If welding, soldering, chopping wood o r mowing lawns, it is sensible to w e a r protective glasses. Home workshop tools should be out of reach of children and garden sheds should have locked doors if they

contain weed killers or fertilisers. Every eye injury is potentially dangerous and rapid medical help is vital. In almost every eye injury, the best First Aid is irrigation by clean water from the tap, cup or eye bath. It can wash out foreign bodies and dusts, dilute chemicals and corro-

sives and cool hot substances. Qualified medical attention is needed fast in all but the most cases of eye injury. If the injury is obviously major, avoid rubbing it and cover the entire orbit with a clean pad and go to hospital immediately.

PIIN Anne

Whyte.