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This week on Health Watch, we've been talking about the end of the holiday season and the coming new year. If you're going to be popping a champagne cork as a way to ring in the new year, ophthalmologists at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas say you need to play it safe. Champagne corks can leave the bottle with explosive force, and that could cause serious eye injuries.
For safe uncorking,
Dr. Preston Bloomquist, a UT Southwestern ophthalmologist, says you should chill your champagne or sparkling wine thoroughly so the cork is less likely to pop. Hold the cork down with the palm of your hand while removing the wire hood, and point the bottle away from people when uncorking it. Put a towel over the top of the bottle and gently give the cork an outward pull until it's almost out of the bottle and counter the force of the cork with pressure as it breaks free. Then pour and drink a toast to the new year!
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December 2005
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