Eye Protection SO Important
Blog vol 5.49. Eye Protection SO Important
This year’s Stanley Cup playoffs have been very entertaining, with Florida trying to repeat and with Edmonton, being led by Connor McDavid, trying to stop the parade and bring the Cup back to Canada.
It was in the seventh game between the Leafs and the Panthers that the incident occurred. One of the referees, Chris Rooney, was in the corner when an errant stick flew up into his face as a Florida player tried to backhand the puck. There was a lot of blood, and wonderfully, no damage to the eye. All on-ice officials wear helmets and a visor to protect their head and eyes because in hockey, sticks and skates and pucks are moving exceedingly fast in unpredictable directions.
Very Sobering
Food for thought. The cut from the stick was just temporal and superior to his right eye socket. Somehow the end of the stick’s blade came up under his visor and cut him above his eye. In the replay you can see the referee’s head go back as he moved to try to avoid the stick, but his helmet was loose fitting enough that it allowed the stick to reach his forehead. (Watch the clip here).
As actor Owen Wilson would so aptly say, “Wow!” That was a very close call, with a dramatic show of blood and a residual black eye with some stitches.
What to do?
Vigilance, don’t slack off. This is serious. To start, the helmet strap must be fastened on tight to keep the visor in front of the eyes, less comfortable but important. A deeper visor for referees might be an idea. No one wants to lose an eye; this is a life thing. As an aside, you cannot play professional hockey or referee with one eye. Remember the career of Paul Maurice (who, by the way, is an excellent hockey coach), he permanently damaged an eye during his OHL career.
Remember, protect your eyes.
This is not just for hockey players. All you who play Pickle Ball, get eye protection. Yes, it is a plastic ball, but it travels fast and you play in tight quarters especially when playing doubles. There are goggles/cages like Kitchen Blockers that do not even have lenses but will keep the ball from contacting the eye. And myself, as an avid woodworker, would like to remind anyone out there that is dealing with things that whirl or turn very fast (especially a lathe or a weed-wacker) to wear eye protection. Come on into our office and discuss with our opticians your many options. Just like with the sun, prevention is the key.
Remember, as my Grade 2 teacher used to say, “It’s always fun, until someone loses an eye!” So true.
Til next week,
the good doctor
