Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
This week on "Healthwatch," we're talking about preventive medicine. Preventive medicine isn't just about preventing or detecting disease. Preventing injuries is just as important and is not just the responsibility of doctors.
Doctors at UT Southwestern Medical Center say employers can help prevent injuries by educating blue-collar workers about the importance of wearing protective eyewear while on the job. Most traumatic eye injuries, including those that cause blindness, happen to young construction workers, and most of these workers weren't wearing eye protection.
Making sure construction workers know the importance of safety goggles and conveying this information in both English and Spanish can do a lot toward preventing blindness.
###
Feb. 2005
Health Watch is heard Monday through Friday nationwide on the "Stardust" format of ABC Satellite Radio. Call your local radio station and ask if they carry the program.