Trading Standards
Spotlight
Promoting Fair Trade in Salford
Inside this issue:
Shades For A Day
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That’s the slogan for
the Guide Dogs for the Blind Eyecare Campaign to raise awareness of
the dangers of faulty sunglasses.
The largest voluntary sector funder of research into the causes of eye disease and blindness has teamed up with trading standards departments nationwide this summer to promote the campaign which is part of the charity’s ‘One Vision’ initiative.
The campaign is aimed at all age groups and stresses the importance of looking after our eyes.
The need to highlight the risks posed by unsafe sunglasses came when Guide Dogs realised that some sunglasses brought into this country do not offer adequate protection from UV sunrays. As a result, when the pupil dilates to let in more sunlight, eyesight could be damaged because the UV rays are still penetrating the dark lenses. Sunglasses which do not filter out UV light can actually cause more harm to the eye than no sunglasses at all.
The Eyecare Campaign culminates with national ‘Shades For A Day’ on Wednesday 18th July when everybody from school children, workers and celebrities will be encouraged to don sunglasses to highlight the importance of wearing reliable shades with the CE marking.
Guide Dogs are also targeting computer users with a specially designed ‘Eye Kon’ available by
downloading it from the Guide Dogs website, www.guidedogs.org.uk.
An image of a blinking eye flashes on the screen every 90 minutes
advising users to ‘Look after your eyes – take a break’.
Tips on buying sunglasses:-
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Look for a label that says they block out 99%-100% UVA and UVB rays.
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Look for glasses that are close fitting as they help stop light getting round the edges.
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Plastic lenses are often better and harder to break than glass.
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Don’t be fooled by price, more expensive shades might be more fashionable but don’t necessarily offer more protection.
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Dark coloured glasses don’t necessarily protect you better, it’s the special coating on the lens that protects you, not the darkness.
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Brown, amber and grey lenses usually give better protection.
Trading
Standards
Advice Service Awarded the
Quality Mark
It’s official. Salford’s Trading Standards Consumer Advice Centre gives a quality service. That’s the opinion of the Community Legal Services Commission who have awarded the department the Quality Mark in the General Help plus Casework category. See inside for more detail and remember to look for the logo on the entrance doors to Crompton House
