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ECLIPSE
April 8, 2024 Vincennes, Indiana
The Eclipse is coming to Vincennes, Indiana. This will be a Total Solar Eclipse with approximately 4 minutes of TOTALITY (the sun completely blocked) over our community.
A total solar eclipse over Vincennes or any other location on the earth occurs approximately only once every 375 years. It is ours to enjoy safely.
With it we will be expected to welcome approximately 100,000 visitors to Knox County.
While the eclipse will be here to enjoy and marvel, most importantly, we must enjoy it safely.
Watching the sun with the naked eye or anything other than special eclipse glasses is dangerous. The rays of the sun can cause permanent damage to the back, or retina, of the eye; even to the point of blindness.
Special commemorative glasses are available and can be purchased at the Knox County Health Department for $1.00.
During the eclipse there will be a short, approximately 4 minutes, period of time when the sun is completely blocked and one can look safely at the blocked sun without glasses. This is called TOTALITY. During this time you will see a dark ball, which is the moon, blocking the sun and the corona, or the edge of the sun, around the moon’s shadow.
During the time of TOTALITY you may safely view the eclipse with the naked eye. The time to do this is probably best done with the advice of a skilled observer nearby.
Putting the special eclipse glasses back on when the moon’s shadow moves away is very important.
Here are some very important precautions and dangers to avoid when viewing an eclipse:
- Do NOT view the eclipse with normal, even very dark, sunglasses. They will not protect you from the harmful rays of the sun and your eyes will be damaged.
- Do NOT view the eclipse with a telescope or binoculars without specialized filters. These will actually concentrate the harmful rays of the sun and cause immediate damage to your eyes.
- Do NOT view the eclipse with specialized glasses that are cracked, have been washed or are in any way damaged. You cannot count on them to properly protect your eyes.
- Do NOT view the eclipse through the lens of a camera as this will also damage your eyes.
- Only use binoculars, camera or telescope to view an eclipse if you have special filters in place that have been put on with the help of an expert. Improper viewing will cause immediate damage to your eyes.
- The eclipse may be safely viewed indirectly when the sun, during the eclipse, is projected to the back of a box through a pinhole placed in aluminum foil. Do NOT look through the pinhole directly at the sun as this will also damage your eyes.
- Do NOT use homemade filters. These may not be reliable.
Other health concerns to consider while watching the eclipse are the following:
- You very likely will be sitting in the sun for a long period of time if it is a sunny day as you are waiting for the eclipse. Be sure to have on adequate sun screen, a hat with a brim to protect your ears, and clothing to cover your skin.
- Drink plenty of water to stay well hydrated.
- Take your cell phone and be with friends so that you can get help if an emergency occurs. Transportation will be difficult with the large crowds.
- Know where first aid stations are located and shelter may be obtained. Excessive heat may also be a danger.
- Appreciate and enjoy other occurrences that happen during the eclipse:
- Note the strange yellow to orange color and the darkness that appears in the atmosphere when the eclipse occurs
- Note that streetlights and automobile headlights will go on during the eclipse.
- Watch your pets, farm animals or other wildlife that you may observe such as birds. They may think that night has fallen and prepare to go to sleep. On the other hand, you may see a raccoon or possum that is usually out at night come out of their cover and become active thinking that it is their time to be out.
- Overall…enjoy the eclipse, but be safe!
Call or visit the Knox County Health Department at 328 North 2nd Street, Vincennes on the first floor of the Bierhaus Building, or call us at 812-882-8080 for and questions that you may have.
Also, remember that we have commemorative eclipse glassed on sale for $1.00 for you, your family and friends and your organization.
KNOX COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Knox County Health Department is to protect, promote, and improve the health and environment for all the people in Knox County, Indiana.
Health Department Staff Directory
Administration
Karla Smith
Administrator
Phone: (812) 882-8080 Ext. 8407
Fax: (812) 882-8701
Email: [email protected]
Betty Lankford, RN
Public Health Nursing Director
Phone: (812) 882-8700 Ext. 8400
Fax: (812) 882-8701
Email: [email protected]
Michael Catt
Knox County Health Officer
Phone: (812) 882-8080
Fax: (812) 882-8701
Email: [email protected]
Immunization
Cara R. Rivera, LPN
Head Immunization Nurse – Communicable Disease
Phone: (812) 882-8700
Fax: (812) 882-8701
Email: [email protected]
Karen Franklin, RN
Immunization Nurse
Phone: (812) 882-8700
Fax: (812) 882-8701
Email: [email protected]
Brian Taylor
Administrative Assistant/Medical Billing Specialist
Phone: (812) 882-8700
Fax: (812) 882-8701
Email: [email protected]
Environmental Health – Inspections
Howard Hatcher
Emergency Preparedness
Phone: (812) 882-8080 Ext. 8403
Fax: (812) 882-5625
Email: [email protected]
Roxanne M. Kempfer
Vital Records Registrar
Phone: (812) 882-8080 Ext. 8406
Fax: (812) 882-5625
eFax: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
