Eye Safety for Hurricane Preparation and Storm Damage Cleanup

Prevent Blindness urges everyone living in coastal communities to think about eye safety when preparing for a storm or when cleaning up after storm damage.

Wear Proper Safety Eyewear

You should always wear safety eyewear whenever there is a chance of eye injury. Anyone working in or passing through areas that pose eye hazards should wear protective eyewear.

When preparing for a hurricane, e.g. boarding windows, wear safety glasses with side shields to protect from particles, flying objects or dust.

Wear goggles when cleaning up after a hurricane if you think you may come into contact with hazardous chemicals. Safety glasses will protect your eyes from flying objects. Goggles protect your eyes from chemical splashes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers additional safety recommendations for disaster cleanup.

First Aid for Eye Emergencies

Knowing what to do in the event of an eye injury can save valuable time and possibly prevent vision loss. Here are some instructions for basic eye injury first aid.

Plan for Your Eye Health

Include an extra pair of glasses, contacts or vision medication in any hurricane emergency bag. Ready.gov provides additional information on how to put together an emergency kit.

Eye Care Assistance

If you are affected by a disaster and need assistance for vision and eye care services, refer to the Prevent Blindness Vision Care Financial Assistance Information for help.