Holiday Safety: Tip No. 16

Dec. 22, 1999
How to avoid serious eye injuries during your celebrations this holiday.

Is your champagne Y2K ready? Before you open a bottle of your favorite bubbly this New Year's Eve, make sure its cold.

According to The American Academy of Opthamology (AAO), warm bottles of champagne, coupled with bad technique, are responsible for causing serious, blinding injuries.

Dr. Anne Sumers, Academy spokesperson, said that she has seen the results of these two factors -- ruptured eye balls, detached retinas and the loss of an eye.

"It usually doesn't happen with the first bottle of champagne, because it has been on ice, but with a third or fourth bottle that hasn't been fully chilled. A warm bottle explodes much sooner and with greater force than a cold bottle," said Sumers.

The AAO offers some tips for protecting your eyes when opening champagne.

  • Keep the bottle cold.
  • Hold the cork down with the palm of your hand while you untwist the wire hood.
  • Point the bottle away from yourself and others. Place a towel over the top and tilt the bottle at a 45-degree angle. Slowly and firmly, twist the cork to break the seal.
  • Keeping the bottle at a 45-degree angle, hold it firmly with one hand and use the other to slowly turn the cork with a slight upward pull. Continue until the cork is almost out of the neck. Counter the force of the cork by applying slight downward pressure just as the cork breaks free from the bottle.
About the Author

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Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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