Gordon Graham
Category: Corrections, Law Enforcement

Gordon Graham here with Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Today’s Tip is for corrections and law enforcement.

One of the most basic ways to protect your eyes from injury is to wear eye protection.

Today’s tip is mostly for corrections and law enforcement officers and it deals with preventing and caring for eye injuries.  

October is Eye Injury Prevention Month and it serves as a reminder to protect our eyes. Blindness is often preventable.   

One of the most basic ways to protect your eyes from injury is to wear eye protection. 

According to a national survey, less than 35 percent of people always wear protective eyewear when they should, like when they are performing home repairs or maintenance.  

Of course, officers wear protective eyewear during firearms training but how many of you wear safety rated glasses during your routine duties? Have you ever heard of an officer getting glass, rocks, dirt or something else thrown in their face? What about the various things that are thrown at custody officers? Have you ever had OC overspray in your eyes? Safety glasses could help in these situations. They can help protect more than the eyes too. Safety glasses can protect against disease by blocking fluids from splashing into the eye.  

But what should you do if you suffer an eye injury?    

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, serious eye injuries are not always obvious. If you believe you have an eye injury, they recommend that you don’t touch, rub or apply pressure to the eye. Don’t removing an object stuck in an eye. Do not apply ointment or medication. And seek medical attention as soon as possible.  

You may have heard that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” When it comes down to your vision, an ounce of prevention may be worth even more.  

And that’s Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Gordon Graham, signing off.