» Battery Eye Safety

Preparing Cars for Winter Can Help Drivers Avoid Being Left Out in the Cold

Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic Provides Car Maintenance Tips
on How to Make It Safely to Your Destination
   
Driving in cold and icy conditions can be very dangerous.  Before starting up their 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 Mid-Atlantic is offering tips to drivers to help keep them safe on the road.

See Clearly - Windshields should be completely cleared of ice, mud, salt and haze   Replace windshield wiper blades if needed and consider using winter blades. Always have an ice scraper and snow brush in your car.

Check the Tires - Tire pressure and wear should be monitored, including the spare tire.  Consider using snow tires for much colder climates. 

Check Fluid Levels - Antifreeze, oil, brake, transmission, power steering and wiper fluid levels and condition need to be checked as well. 

Inspect Belts and Hoses - Make sure all belts and hoses are not frayed or cracked.  Make sure all hose connections are secure.

Practice Safety - Drivers should slow down. Factor in additional driving time in wintery conditions.  All drivers and passengers must always wear seat belts; small children and infants should be securely placed in car seats or booster seats.

Put together an Emergency Kit - An emergency kit should contain first-aid supplies, a flashlight, blanket, bottled water, food, a shovel and a bag of sand or kitty litter.  Make sure you have a fully-charged cellular phone.  Drivers should also carry emergency road care items such as flares, jumper cables and a functional spare tire. 

Check the Battery - Drivers need to test their batteries regularly to make sure they are charging properly and have no corrosion at the connections.  Never attempt to charge a frozen battery.

Every year, dead batteries cause millions of cars and trucks to fail to start. Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic wants to warn the public 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 Tim Gresham, President and CEO of Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic.  “The injured person should seek medical attention immediately.” 

To help ensure that motorists know how to safely jump start an automotive battery, Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic 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 Mid-Atlantic 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 Mid-Atlantic at (888) 790-2020.

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About Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic

Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic is the only local volunteer-based nonprofit organization whose sole mission is to preserve sight and prevent blindness. The primary means of accomplishing our mission since 1957 is through vision screenings for both children and adults, providing support groups for seniors, and supplying public and professional education and information. For more information, or to contribute to the sight-saving fund, call toll-free, (888) 790-2020, ext. "0." We also gratefully accept online donations here at this web site!