30 Aug ‘TIS THE SEASON TO CELEBRATE & BE SAFE
‘Tis the season to be jolly and celebrate with family and friends, it’s a time where we look forward to attending parties, relaxing and spending time with those we love most. However, it is very important that while you celebrate, you stay safe and take care of your loved ones from preventable eye injuries.
Here are some tips of how to keep your eyes safe this season.
DRIVING
The holidays often mean driving to visit those we love to spend quality time with them and celebrate the season, however some of the drives may be long and blurry vision or fatigue becomes one of the main concerns. To make sure you travel smoothly, remember to:
- Use artificial tears to help soothe and refresh your eyes during the long drives.
- Rest well before driving or if you find yourself tired, take breaks, share the driving or stop on the way to get some rest.
- If you plan on drinking, make sure you have an alternative way to get home or stay over and rest at your destination.
ALCOHOL
A toast here, some social drinking there but moderation is always key. Did you know that the consumption of alcohol actually relaxes your eye muscles, which causes confusion about how far away things are from us and where the horizon is? When we drink alcohol, we can experience dizziness and blurry vision, and end up spilling and stumbling. If you have contacts, you have to be extra careful when drinking!
- Carry your contact solution and case with you when you go out so that you don’t have to spend time looking around if you’re eyes get tired or dry from the lenses. Just in case, bring your glasses so that when you take out your lenses you do not impair vision further.
- When celebrating and popping champagne bottles, turn your face away from the bottle and make sure you don’t point it in the direction of anyone else either. If the cork is shot in someone’s direction it could hit your eyes and cause a lot of damage.
CARE FOR YOUR KIDS EYES
Did you know December is Safe Toys & Gifts Month? We know that no one intentionally buys gifts for others that will harm them, but keep in mind some popular children’s toys can cause serious eye injuries.
Here is how you can avoid any accidents with your kids these holidays:
- Read the labels on the toys to make sure they are age appropriate and check all the all the warning, instructions to know how to properly operate the toys.
- Avoid buying toys for kids with sharp corners or rods.
- Try to avoid toys that can shoot objects or if you have already bought a toy like this, make sure to supervise playtime and have the kids wear eye protection to avoid accidents.
- Watch our for the letters “ASTM” on the packages as this indicates that the product meets the standards for the “AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS.”
Also, be careful with fireplaces or open fires that can burn both you and your children. Keep at a safe distance and place open fire, like candles, out of your children’s reach.
We wish you a Happy Holiday Season and hope you have a good time with your loved ones!
