Keep an Eye on Safety Around Your Home

More than half of the 2.5 million eye injuries that occur every year happen around the home.

That’s why Prevent Blindness America has designated October as Home Eye Safety Awareness Month. The eye health and safety organization desires to educate the public on the potential dangers around the home.

The most common place of injury is the yard or garden, but look out for hazards while doing home repair or using power tools, too.

Prevent Blindness America advises you to take the following precautions when working around your home:

• Provide effective lights and handrails to improve safety on stairs and reduce the risk of falls.
• Never mix cleaning agents.  Read and follow all manufacturer instructions and warning labels.
• Wear safety glasses with side protection or dust goggles to protect against flying particles, and chemical goggles to guard against exposure to fertilizers and pesticides.
• If you wear prescription glasses, many safety glasses or goggles will fit over your regular glasses.  Regular eyeglasses do not always provide enough protection, and may even cause further injury upon impact.
• Inspect and remove debris from lawns before mowing.  Make sure others in the yard are wearing eye protection as well as bystanders can be hit by flying debris.
• Keep paints, pesticides, fertilizers, and similar products properly stored in a secure area.  Read and follow all product instructions.
• Keep tools in good condition; damaged tools should be repaired or replaced.
• Welding or brazing requires special safety goggles or helmets.  Consult your equipment instruction or supplier for the proper protection.

Continue to follow us during the month of October to learn more about potential hazards in various places throughout your home!