DHHS Encourages Safety for those Planning to View Solar Eclipse | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

    RALEIGH     The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is encouraging people who plan to view Monday's solar eclipse to use proper eye protection and take steps to reduce the risk of heat-related illness.

    The eclipse will be visible for more than two hours Monday afternoon across the state.

    "Looking directly at the sun without proper eye protection can cause retinal burns," said Edwin Swann, M.D., North Carolina Division of Services for the Blind State Certifying Ophthalmologist. "People who choose to view the eclipse should be sure they are equipped with special-purpose solar eclipse glasses or handheld viewers that meet NASA standards."

    NASA says eclipse glasses and handheld solar viewers should:

• Have certification information with a designated ISO 12312-2 international standard
• Have the manufacturer's name and address printed somewhere on the product
• Not be used if they are older than three years or have scratched or wrinkled lenses

    NASA also warns against using homemade filters and ordinary sunglasses. The American Astronomical Society has a list of reputable vendors of solar eclipse filters and viewers here: https://eclipse.aas.org/resources/solar-filters.

    Any eye damage from viewing the eclipse without proper protection may not manifest itself right away but could make sight difficult the next day and may result in long-term damage.

    Those who expect to be outside for an extended period of time should be sure to drink plenty of fluids and not leave children or pets in unattended vehicles.

    Additional safety tips from NASA can be found here: https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/safety. For North Carolina-specific information about the eclipse, visit: https://www.nc.gov/eclipse2017.

      NC Department of Health and Human Services

• 2001 Mail Service Center
• Raleigh, NC 27699-2001
• news@dhhs.nc.gov •(919) 855-4840