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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – COLUMBUS, OH – Since winter has officially begun and driving in cold and icy conditions can be very dangerous, before starting up your engines, drivers need to be prepared for unpredictable driving conditions. Motorists should do a thorough check under the hood to help minimize the chance of car problems.
In 2008, automotive batteries alone caused an estimated 1,800 eye injuries, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Prevent Blindness Ohio is offering tips to drivers to help keep them safe on the road.
Always wear a pair of splash-proof polycarbonate goggles with the designation Z-87 on the frame. This certifies that your goggles are meant for activities such as automotive repair.
Check your battery for damage such as cracks, corrosive materials and loose wires as often as you have your oil changed.
Make sure that you have a pair of jumper cables that are rust and corrosion free and have no exposed wires. (Never use electrical tape to cover exposed wires.)
Make sure you buy a battery that is recommended in your car owner’s manual.
Never throw an automobile battery in a garbage dumpster or leave it in a parking lot, especially if it is cracked or damaged. Take it to a service station and have it disposed of properly.
Never jump-start your battery if your car’s fluids are frozen.
When buying a new battery make sure that its terminals are sturdy and large enough to allow the clamps of a pair of jumper cables to attach easily when jump-starting.
Always call a professional if you think there might be trouble you can’t handle, or you can’t remember how to jump-start a vehicle.
Every year, dead batteries cause millions of cars and trucks to fail to start. Prevent Blindness Ohio warns that all vehicle batteries contain sulfuric acid and produce hydrogen and oxygen gases, improper procedures in jump-starting a dead battery can turn the battery into a bomb, causing serious injuries.
“In the event of battery acid entering the eye, the injured person should flush the eye with water. If water is not readily available, any drinkable liquid on hand, such as water, milk, juice or any soft drink will work,” said Sherry Williams, President and CEO of Prevent Blindness Ohio. “Injured persons should seek medical attention immediately.”
To help ensure that motorists know how to safely jump start an automotive battery, Prevent Blindness Ohio offers free, easy-to-follow instructions. The “Jump Start Your Battery Safely” sticker can be placed in the glove compartment or adhered to the inside of the car’s hood. Prevent Blindness Ohio also offers a “First Aid for Eye Emergencies” sticker which can be placed on the inside door of a medicine cabinet in the home or business which gives detailed instructions on how to address an eye injury.
Both stickers are available in both English and Spanish and can be requested through the toll-free number of Prevent Blindness Ohio at 800-301-2020 or visit www.pbohio.org.
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