ALABAMA A&M and AUBURN UNIVERSITIES

ALABAMA A&M and AUBURN UNIVERSITIES

PROTECT EYES WHEN JUMP-STARTING AUTO BATTERIES

NORMAL, AL, JAN. 28, 2000---Most car owners don't know how to jump-start a car battery safely. Each year, their lack of knowledge causes many Americans to suffer serious eye injuries or lose their sight from auto battery accidents.

Car batteries contain sulfuric acid and produce hydrogen and oxygen gases. Improper jump-starting may cause the battery to explode, says Dr. Bernice Wilson, urban resource management specialist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension. If the gases come in contact with a spark, flame or lit cigarette, the battery can explode, sending battery parts and acid flying.

A dead battery never happens at a convenient time or place. Motorists should be aware of basic car mechanics and jump-start procedures before they find themselves stranded, or worse, injured from a battery explosion.

Read your car owner's manual and make sure you understand the basic mechanics of your vehicle. Many new cars have sophisticated computer systems, which can be destroyed if the car is improperly jump-started.

Be prepared for battery failure by keeping an emergency jump-start kit in your car. The kit should contain splash-proof goggles, jumper cables, a flashlight and jump-start instructions.

If a disabled car battery explodes and gets into one or both of your eyes, don't panic. Immediately flush the eye with the first drinkable liquid you find -- water, juice, milk or a soft drink. Every second counts. The longer the acid sits in the eye, the greater the chances of corneal burn or blindness.

SOURCE: DR. BERNICE WILSON, Extension Urban Resource Management Specialist, Alabama Cooperative Extension System (256) 858-4969

Information by Prevent Blindness America.