We've all seen it on TV, the cork flying across the room as the champagne bubbles over the lip of the bottle and a loud "pop" echoes through the air. It looks harmless, but looks can be deceiving.
Champagne Safety
We've all seen it on TV, the cork flying across the room as the champagne bubbles over the lip of the bottle and a loud "pop" echoes through the air. It looks harmless, but looks can be deceiving.
According to Dr. Anne Sumers, an ophthalmologist and spokeswoman for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, a cork can become a weapon when it explodes out of the bottle. Unlike getting hit in the eye with a soccer ball or basketball, you have virtually no protection from a cork- it can go right into your eye.
Dr. Sumers states that injuries can range from bruising to scratches to bleeding around or inside the eye. "The worst scenario is a ruptured globe. The eye is like an egg - it's hard to put all the pieces back together."
When opening champagne, make sure that it is properly chilled and point the cork safely away from you tilted at a 45-degree angle. Cover the cork with a towel or napkin, and gently move the bottle to loosen the cork. It will eventually "ease" itself off into the towel.
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