CYSC, NASPE double-team sports eye safety

Alexandria, VA-In an effort to educate physical education teachers, coaches, and parents about the importance of eye safety in sports for children, Check Yearly-See Clearly (CYSC) and the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) have partnered to distribute eye-safety kits. More than 20,000 kits were distributed to NASPE members and physical education teachers this past summer.

"Partnering with NASPE is great because it gives us grassroots access to teachers and coaches in thousands of communities," said Ed Greene, chief executive officer of the Vision Council of America (VCA). "We hope that the eye-safety kits will empower them to promote the importance of wearing sports protective eyewear."

The kit includes a vibrant poster highlighting the "dos and don'ts" of emergency eye-care treatment. Additionally, the kit provides teachers and coaches with a fact sheet, "Help Protect Your Child's Vision," that can be photocopied and distributed to parents.

Many recipients expressed gratitude for the kits, citing the need for parents to understand the importance of preventing sports-related eye injuries. "Thank you . . . Students need visual reminders," said Kathy Kent, a physical education and health teacher in Simpsonville, SC. "I also intend to give one to my eye-care professional in our town."

For more information about CYSC or to obtain a copy of the eye safety kit, go to http://www.checkyearly.com/ or contact Stephanie Campbell, VCA manager of professional and consumer relations, at scampbell@visionsite.org
or 703/548-4560 ext. 9498.