Fact:
Injuries are the leading cause of childhood death in
the United States.
Fact:
Farm machinery causes 85 percent of all machinery-related
deaths to children.
Fact:
The main sources of childhood farm-related injuries
and deaths can be prevented.
Fact:
Nearly all childhood farm-related injuries and deaths
can be prevented.
The
farm is a dangerous place for children because they live
where work is performed. It is difficult for children to
separate their play from farm hazards. To a child, a grain
bin is a fascinating and adventurous place. However, many
of these adventures have tragic endings.
Children
on their own cannot recognize farm hazards. They must be
taught how to recognize farm dangers and how to avoid them.
The following are dangers that should be discussed with
children:
- Animal
behavior
- The
weight and force of grain
- The
harmful gases released by manure and silage
- Electricity
- Chemicals
and pesticides
- Riding
and playing on equipment
The
chart in Figure 1 shows how children are injured on a farm.
For additional information on the above topics, contact
your county office of Ohio State University's Cooperative
Extension Service.
Young
children learn primarily by touch and sight. Many times
these two senses put a child into a dangerous situation.
For example, fascination with a quickly moving PTO can result
in disaster. However, these senses can also be used to teach
children about farm hazards. For example, bright safety
emblems can be used as flash cards to teach children farm
hazards. Models of farm equipment can also be used to demonstrate
and prevent possible accidents.
(For
further child development information see fact sheet AEX
991.1, What Job is Right for my Child?)
Parents
and grandparents should use precautionary safety measures
to prevent accidents. They can set and enforce safe limits
and be good role models for children by promoting farm safety.
The
following are key steps to farm safety:
- Children
should not be extra riders on equipment.
- Children
should not play with idle machinery.
- Equipment
that might fall, such as front-end loaders, should be
left in the down position.
- When
parked, self-propelled machinery should be locked and
keys removed from the ignition.
- A
tractor PTO should be in neutral when not in use.
- Know
where children are whenever starting machinery, and especially
when backing up equipment.
- Machinery
should be kept in good repair, particularly protective
shields, ROPS, and seat belts.
- Children
should not operate machinery until they complete safety
training.
- All
ATV riders should wear helmets.
- Farm
ponds and manure pits should be fenced.
- Fixed
ladders should be out of reach, or fit with a special
barrier.
- Portable
ladders should be kept away from danger areas such as
grain wagons and silos.
- Dangerous
machinery components should be kept out of reach of small
children.
- Electrical
boxes should be kept locked.
- Warning
decals recognizable to children should be on all grain
bins, wagons, silos, barns, and trucks.
- Chemicals
and pesticides should be stored in a locked area.
- All
equipment used on roads should have working lights, reflectors
and a slow-moving vehicle emblem.
- Set
regular times for family safety instructions (for example,
monthly family safety days).
Farm-related
injuries occur while children are both at play and at work.
The majority of children over the age of seven are participating
in farm labor when injured. Children perform a lot of duties
on farms and are a valuable resource, but children working
on farms have a high rate of injury. Proper safety training
can minimize the risk of injury to your child.
HOW TO GET EMERGENCY
MEDICAL HELP
- First:
Got to the nearest telephone.
- Second:
Dial the emergency number.
- Third:
When someone answers, they will need to know:
- Where
your are -- be very specific -- give the exact location;
give any landmarks, names of streets, intersections
or rural route number.
- Your
name
- How
many people are hurt
- The
condition of the people hurt
- Fourth:
Don't hang up until you ask if you should!
SOURCES
- Tevis
and Finck. We Kill Too Many Farm Kids. Successful Farming.
1989.
- Meath,
Michael. Farm Safety, What are the Real Losses in Agricultural
Accidents. Agway Cooperator. March 1991.
Disclaimer
and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not
represent NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears
by permission of the author and/or copyright holder. More
NASD Review: 04/2002
This
document is
AEX-991
,
a series of the Agricultural Engineering Department and
Department of Preventive Medicine, Ohio State University
Extension, Columbus, Ohio 43210. Supported in part by project
#MCH394001-02-1 from the Emergency Medical Services for
Children program, Health Resources and Service Administration
Department of Health and Human Services. Publication date:
October 1992.
Thomas L. Bean, Safety Leader; Jennifer Wojtowicz, Graduate
Assistant, Ohio State University Extension, Columbus, Ohio
43210. Reviewed by Dr. Randall Wood, Dr. Sue Nokes and Mr.
Ron Clason, Agricultural Engineering Department.