Why solar eclipse could be dangerous for unsupervised kids — including teens
Michel Fich is crystal clear about what could happen when we encounter the solar eclipse that’s coming on April 8.
“If you look at the sun, you’re risking enough vision loss that you’ll never get your driver’s licence,” says the professor emeritus of astrophysics at University of Waterloo.
Fich hopes the fear of not being able to drive will cause some teens to think twice about looking at the sun without proper protection when it almost disappears behind the moon at 3:18 p.m.
The solar eclipse is both an exciting teachable moment, and a very real danger.
Two groups are especially vulnerable: Very young children who won’t be able to obey instructions, and teenagers who think nothing bad will happen to them no matter how risky their behaviour.
And, if they go to public schools, both groups will be heading home from school during the time that the moon starts to roll in front of the sun, darkening the sky and making us want to look up at this amazing phenomenon.
That’s why it’s a puzzle that the Waterloo Region District School Board hasn’t followed the lead of other boards, including the local Catholic board, by declaring April 8 a professional development day for teachers.
The boards that have declared this day for April 8 — which means students won’t be in schools at all — have relieved themselves of liability and also have done more to protect students from risk.
There’s something about the lesssupervised time between school ending and parents returning home that makes protective adults a little worried.
The public board has said it’s confident that by having schools open, staff will “make the most of the once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunity connected to the eclipse.”
In its statement on the board website, there isn’t clear information about what those learning opportunities will be.
But the statement offers safety advice, provides links to informative websites like the Waterloo Centre for Astrophysics, and makes clear that families can keep their children home or pick them up early, if they wish to.
Fich also recommends the site of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada as a resource for those who want to experience this event.
In Waterloo Region, if skies are clear, 99 per cent of the sun will be covered by the moon at 3:18 p.m.
The total eclipse can be seen in the Niagara area and southern part of Hamilton, where the sun will seem to be dark as the moon blocks it totally, and a ghostly halo of light, which is usually invisible, will appear.
Further away in Waterloo Region, that halo of light won’t be visible. But skies will still darken.
If people look directly at the sun without the proper protection — and sunglasses are not enough, even if they are the darkest you can find — they can damage their retina permanently. There won’t be pain to warn them, either, because there aren’t pain receptors in the back of the eye.
To look directly at the sun in safety, you need protective filters that comply with the ISO 12312-2: 2015 standard, authorities agree.
Fich is concerned that very young children on their way home won’t be as well supervised as if they’re in school or at home.
If they can’t follow instructions not to look at the sun, “then they need to be indoors,” he said.
From his point of view, April 8 “might be a good day for an early dismissal,” so that the less-supervised transition period between school and home isn’t happening during the time of the eclipse.
When March break is over next week, the school board still has time to consider that idea, and make it happen.
‘‘ If you look at the sun, you’re risking enough vision loss that you’ll never get your driver’s licence. MICHEL FICH PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF ASTROPHYSICS AT UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO