The First Alert Weather Team is giving away free solar eclipse glasses

UPDATE: We are out of solar eclipse glasses. Thank you to everyone who came out!

Come get a pair of Fi​rst Alert Weather eclipse glasses this Thursday, August 17 at the Action News Jax studios from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Action News Jax is giving away one pair per household.

These glasses let you safely view the solar eclipse on Monday, August 21. Normal sunglasses aren’t enough to protect eyes from damaging rays.

Chief Meteorologist Mike Buresh and Meteorologist Garrett Bedenbaugh will be in the Action News Jax parking lot handing out glasses and answering all of your eclipse questions. You will also be able to check out the First Alert Storm Tracker.

“A solar eclipse should never be watched the same way we should not stare at the sun,” said Alberto Ortiz, an ophthalmologist with Mittleman Eye in West Palm Beach. “It causes toxicity to the retina and can even cause permanent vision loss.”

We have a limited supply of solar eclipse glasses, so arrive early to ensure you receive a pair.

The solar eclipse begins at 1:16 p.m. on Monday, August 21 and reaches totality at 2:47 p.m. This is the first solar eclipse in 99 years to cross coast-to-coast. To learn more about the eclipse, click here.

Action News Jax studios are located at 11700 Central Parkway.

Cox Media Group