WEDNESDAY, Dec. 31 (HealthDay News) -- Be careful with the bubbly or you could be among the estimated 1,500 Americans in the ER this holiday season with an eye injury from a flying champagne cork. When a champagne bottle is opened improperly, the cork can travel up to 50 mph and, in a fraction of a second, permanently injure an eye, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Warm bottles of champagne and poor technique in removing the cork often lead to such explosive results, but simple precautions can cut the chance of injury. To open a bottle of champagne or sparkling wine the safest way:
The academy also offers a few suggestions on what not to do when opening champagne:
More information The American Academy of Ophthalmology has more about eye safety. (SOURCE: American Academy of Ophthalmology, news release, Dec. 8, 2008 ) Copyright © 2009 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved. HealthDayNews articles are derived from various sources and do not reflect federal policy. healthfinder.gov does not endorse opinions, products, or services that may appear in news stories. For more information on health topics in the news, visit Health News on healthfinder.gov. |