Health And Safety Tips For The
Eclipse
Looking at the sun when it is partially
eclipsed is unsafe
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[August 19, 2017]
SPRINGFIELD
– On Monday, August 21, 2017, a solar eclipse will be visible across
the entire U.S. The last total solar eclipse seen coast to coast in
the U.S. was in 1918. Starting shortly before noon and lasting until
2:45 p.m. central time, people in Illinois can see the moon pass in
front of the sun. There is a 70-mile wide path across the country
called the path of totality, which is when the sun will be
completely blocked by the moon. Parts of southern Illinois are in
the path of totality and people there will see a total eclipse.
Totality in Carbondale and the immediate surrounding area will last
approximately 2 minutes and 40 seconds. Central and northern
Illinois will see varying degrees of the partial eclipse with
decreasing magnitude further north. More information about the path
of the eclipse and how long it will last can be found at https://eclipse.aas.org/.
Looking directly at the sun is unsafe except during the brief phase
when the moon entirely eclipses the sun. The only safe way to look
directly at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun is through
special-purpose solar filters, such as eclipse glasses or hand-held
solar viewers.
“Looking at the sun without eclipse glasses or solar viewers can
cause ‘eclipse blindness’ or retinal burns,” said Illinois
Department of Public Health Director Nirav D. Shah, M.D., J.D.
“Homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are
not safe for looking at the sun.”
To date, four manufacturers have certified that their eclipse
glasses and handheld solar viewers meet the ISO 12312-2
international standard for such products: Rainbow Symphony, American
Paper Optics, Thousand Oaks Optical, and TSE 17. More information
about eclipse glasses and solar viewers can be found under resources
on the American Astronomical Society website at https://eclipse.aas.org/resources/solar-filters.
If you’re planning to spend the day outside and turn the eclipse
viewing into an event, keep in mind sun and heat safety.
SUN AND HEAT – while outside, guard against sunburn and heat
illness.
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Never leave anyone, including pets, alone in a
closed, parked vehicle
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Apply sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher 30 minutes
before going outside
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Increase fluid intake - drink more liquid than
thirst indicates; avoid alcohol and caffeine
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Be aware of heat exhaustion. Symptoms include
heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, nausea, clammy skin, pale
or flushed complexion, and fast and shallow breathing
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If present, be sure to move the person to a
cooler place, remove or loosen tight clothing, apply cool,
wet cloths, and give cool water to slowly drink
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Be aware of heat stroke. Symptoms include hot,
dry or wet skin, hallucinations, chills, throbbing headache,
high body temperature, confusion/dizziness, and slurred speech
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If present, call 911; quickly cool the person
in a cool bath or wrap wet sheets around them; if the victim
refuses water, is vomiting, or shows a decreased level of
consciousness, do not give anything to eat or drink
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TICKS AND MOSQUITOES – If you’re camping or in
the woods or open space to see the eclipse, watch out for insect
bites. Mosquitoes can transmit West Nile virus and ticks can
transmit Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ehrlichiosis,
and other serious diseases.
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Wear insect repellent. Apply insect repellent
that contains DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR
3535, according to label instructions
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Check for ticks, both people and pets, every 2 to
3 hours
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Remove ticks attached to the body promptly to
help prevent diseases. Use tweezers to remove the tick and call
a health care provider if a rash, fever, or body aches develop
during the 1 to 3 weeks following a bite.
For more information about summer safety, check out our “Summer? No
Sweat. A Summer Survival Guide” at www.dph.illinois.gov.
For information about road conditions, traffic, and camping, check
out www.ready.illinois.gov. For additional information about eye
safety, we suggest contacting an optometrist.
[Illinois Department of Public
Health] |