Health Warning for New Year Champagne Poppers


Tomorrow brings New Years Eve; parties, celebrations and many popping corks of champagne. However, Professor Kuldev Singh of Stanford University School of Medicine issues safety advice for anyone thinking of popping a cork this New Years Eve. It may seem to dampen the festive spirit but he insists that the incorrect removal of champagne corks is one of the most frequented of eye related holiday accidents. Additionally, a cork in the eye this New Years Eve could leave you with severe visual problems and even permanent vision loss.

To many of us Professor Singh’s health warning will come as a joke, another health and safety jargon dampening our partying ways. However, for those unfortunate enough to have experienced a popped cork landing their eye, the consequences can be devastating. No doubt we’ve all seen smashed light bulbs and marked ceilings from champagne corks which just serve as a reminder of how fast these corks are released from the champagne bottle. Professor Singh also warns that not only is the accident initially very painful, it can lead to problems much further down the line. The injuries can lead to acute forms of detached retina and even glaucoma, and sometimes the cornea can become strained which all lead to reduced vision later on in life. 

Professor Singh adds a few champagne popping tips to help you ensure your holiday is “enjoyable and safe”. Keep the bottle tilted at a 45 degree angle, pointing away from you and any others. Use a towel to help release the cork slowly… His tips are detailed further, but most of us are quite clued up with our champagne popping. Perhaps when the New Year rings in and you’ve successfully popped your champagne cork, you should toast Professor Singh’s eye-saving health warning.

30th December 2009

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