HELP KEEP YOUR EYES SAFE
It is estimated that 95% of eye injuries treated in the emergency departments of Australian hospitals are the result of carelessness and lack of attention to basic safety precautions. The majority of eye injuries are preventable and can be avoided by taking a common sense approach to potentially hazardous activities. Nearly half of all eye injuries occur around the home or during leisure activities. If you are aware of potential hazards and follow a few safety precautions, you may save your own or someone else’s sight.
Many injuries are caused by foreign objects getting lodged in the eyes. Flying metal particles, sand, glass, stone, gravel, boiling water or oil, and hazardous chemicals in liquid or gas form are some types of particles that could enter the eye and cause an injury. This type of injury is also one of the most easily preventable eye injuries as you can protect the eyes from foreign bodies quite easily.
Another common eye injury is caused by blunt force trauma. This type of injury is usually caused when something heavy and blunt hits the eye with some force. Many sports-related eye injuries fall under this category as people take a ball to the face or get hit by a flying shuttle in the eye. Wrestlers and martial arts practitioners are also at risk of getting hit in the face by accident or while sparring, resulting in trauma to the eye.
At home:
- Take special care when using cleaning products or harsh chemicals. Read all instructions before use and wash hands well after use.
- Wear safety goggles when using powerful chemicals to protect your eyes from splashes and fumes.
- Make sure that you point spray nozzles away from your face.
In the workshop:
- Always wear goggles or safety glasses.
- Read the instructions for all tools and chemicals before using and follow directions for proper usage, observing special precautions.
- Keep all tools and power equipment in good repair.
- Extinguish cigarettes or matches before working around flammable materials.
Around the garden:
- Pick up rocks and twigs before mowing the lawn.
- Keep others away form the area where you are mowing.
- Wear safety glasses or goggles, especially when chopping wood or trimming bushes and trees.
- When securing objects with octopus straps, pull the strap to the side of your body rather than towards your face.
When playing sport:
- Observe safety rules when you play.
- Wear safety glasses, especially for racquet sports.
- Wear protective helmets or face protectors when appropriate.
Source: Optometrists Association Australia