It can be very exciting to know you will be in the path of a solar eclipse. These events are very rare and only happen a few times a year. When they do, the swath of the planet’s surface that gets impacted is usually a very narrow strip that gets to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the moon block some or all of the sun. The few moments of dim light are a unique experience for those who can handle it safely. What about those that can’t? Anyone in your life suffering from mental loss might still gaze up in awe and wonder without knowing the safety precautions necessary to avoid retina damage and blindness during an eclipse.
1- Include Them in Your Shopping
If you want to enjoy a solar eclipse, then you need to buy solar eclipse glasses for everyone in your home who intends to watch the event. Regular sunglasses aren’t enough protection to look up at this celestial event and protect your eyes. Make sure of two things when you buy solar eclipse glasses. First, be sure they meet the ISO minimum standards that certify them as safe. Second, get enough for everyone, including anyone in your family with mental loss issues. Even if they don’t look up at the eclipse, you can know they’re safe by having the glasses available and on them during the event.
2- Keep Them Under Shade
Solar eclipse glasses are a great safety item to have on hand, but you can also block the direct line of sight of anyone you care about. Keeping them inside is one way to accomplish this, or you might have them sit safely in a passenger vehicle. If they’re outside, putting them under an umbrella, tarp, or canvas can keep them from being able to hurt themselves if the angle is right between them and the eclipse.
3- Provide Distractions
Indoors or out, you can keep individuals with mental loss busy with activities they might enjoy. Someone who might not have all their faculties present still has personality and enjoys certain games, exercises, and social activities. When they’re busy, they’re not likely to even notice an eclipse long enough to look at it and hurt their eyes. If you’re not sure where to start, the Alzheimer’s Society has dozens of recommendations you can review.
4- Know Who To Protect
Knowing who to protect in the event of a solar eclipse might be a broader group than you first think. Adults who are suffering from dementia or other forms of mental loss might be the first ones that come to mind, and they do deserve your care and attention. However, they might not be the only ones who need your protection. Young children, infants, and babies also won’t know better than to stare at the sun, and even some teenagers might fall prey to peer pressure if they see everyone else looking up. For that matter, you should keep pets inside and away from windows in order to protect them.