IDPH Recommends Experiencing The
Eclipse With An Eye Toward Safety
Don’t let injury or illness disrupt your enjoyment of the April 8
eclipse
Send a link to a friend
[April 07, 2024]
With
large crowds expected to converge on Southern Illinois in the days
ahead to experience the total solar eclipse on April 8, the Illinois
Department of Public Health (IDPH) is offering suggestions on how to
view the eclipse safely.
“A total solar eclipse is a rare and remarkable event,” said IDPH
Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “Everyone in the eclipse’s path is set
for a truly memorable experience and we, in public health, want to
ensure it is a safe one as well. Please make sure you, your family,
and friends take appropriate precautions this coming Monday, April
8th to avoid any injury or illness.”
The April 8 total eclipse will follow a path similar to the August
2017 total eclipse. This time, people across a wide swath of
Southern Illinois will be in total darkness for just over four
minutes. It will be the last total eclipse over the United States
until 2045.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2024/Apr/08/images/ads/current/debbiesfloral_lda_040124.png)
IDPH and its Office of Preparedness and Response are
working to remind the public about potential dangers associated with
the eclipse and to ensure they take all appropriate precautions.
That begins with eye safety – attempting to directly observe the
eclipse without eye protection could cause permanent damage.
Standard sunglasses do not offer protection, no matter how dark, and
are not safe for viewing the sun. To directly view the eclipse,
people must use special safe eclipse viewers which meet the ISO
12312-2 international standard. Check the link to see if your
eclipse viewers meet this standard.
Another way to safely view the eclipse is indirectly via pinhole
projection. With your back to the sun, you can look at the shadow
from the eclipse on the ground through a hole punched in an index
card, an object with small holes like a pasta colander, or your
fingers crossed over each other.
The large number of visitors expected into the path of totality --
including Carbondale, Herrin, McLeansboro, Albion, and other
communities -- could also mean extensive traffic congestion. IDPH
recommends travelers have a safety kit in their vehicle in case they
wind up stranded, potentially for hours. That kit should include
non-perishable food, water, and any needed medications.
[to top of second column] |
![](../images/ads/current/guzzardos_lda_GENERIC_040524.png)
With many people planning to camp
in the area leading up to the eclipse, there are other safety
considerations to keep in mind. These include the possibility of
severe weather – a not-uncommon occurrence this time of year. In
addition, those who are hiking in the area are advised to stay
to marked paths. Rocks and ledges in outdoor areas can become
very slippery in the spring weather conditions, increasing the
risk of a serious fall.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2024/Apr/08/images/ads/current/prarieland_sda_SFARM_2024.png)
With the increased tourism and outdoor events, more
people will be recreating around bodies of water. Some will even
view the eclipse from the bodies of water (e.g., from boats). In
addition to general awareness of the potential risk of drowning,
it's important to recognize the longest period of totality will be 4
minutes and 28 seconds, in comparison, drownings can occur in as
little as 30 seconds. It is fast, and it is silent. Be alert and
take precautions.
Another thing to keep in mind: food trucks may be set up to meet the
needs of visitors, but it’s important to be sure you’re getting food
from facilities that have been properly inspected by the local
health department and meet all sanitary guidelines.
Additionally, while many people may choose to celebrate the eclipse
with alcohol or other intoxicants, it is best not to indulge to
excess. There are concerns about a heightened risk of overdose among
people coming into the area for the eclipse. IDPH is working with
local health departments and other agencies to make sure there is an
adequate supply of naloxone on hand to counteract the effects of an
opioid overdose. IDPH has also arranged for naloxone to be kept on
site at more than 20 state parks within the path of totality.
Visitors to state parks who need naloxone can obtain it from
Illinois Conservation Police officers onsite.
Also, a team of 22 volunteer personnel from the Illinois Medical
Emergency Response Team (IMERT) are being deployed to Lawrence
County to be available to assist in the event of a medical surge
incident during day of the solar eclipse and the weekend prior. The
team includes two physicians, nurses, paramedics and specialists in
communications and logistics. The team will set up a temporary
medical treatment site on the campus of Lawrence County Memorial
Hospital, working in conjunction with hospital staff, the Lawrence
County Health Department, and the Lawrence County Emergency
Management Agency.
IDPH encourages everyone to enjoy the unique experience of a total
eclipse, but to do so safely and wisely.
[Illinois Office of Communication and
Information] |