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S.S.
Bair
NIOSH Education and Information Division
Data
from the National Safety Council estimates that each year
at least 5,000 children are seriously injured on farms. In
addition, their figures indicate that approximately 300 children
are killed each year in farm accidents. A Cornell University
study shows that children on farms under 14 years of age were
three times more likely to be injured when compared to others
working on the farm. Wayne County is largely a rural farming
community where a very high percentage of children and youth
either live on farms or visit farms of relatives or friends.
Young children often identify the farm as a "fun place" without
identifying the dangers that exist, thus making them vulnerable
to death and injury from farm accidents. Preliminary data
from an on-going study conducted in Wayne and Holmes Counties
shows that June, 1992, to June, 1993, 19 children between
the ages of 0-9 years and 27 children between the ages of
10-19 years of age were involved in farm-related accidents
serious enough to send them to an emergency room. The study
has recorded the death of one 5-year-old child during this
time period. Children's attitudes and behaviors are changeable
and education can make a significant impact on prevention
of unintentional injury.
The
Farm Safe Me curriculum has been developed to reach children
and their families with experiences in farm hazard recognition
and safety. The three-part program targeting pre-school and
early elementary age children and their families increases
hazard awareness, and introduces and reinforces farm safety
habits. A parent component is included within the program
with take home parent/child activities with each 30-minute
section.
Farm
Safe Me has been marketed in rural Wayne County Elementary
Schools and has been very well received. To date, the program
has been presented in ten classrooms with nearly 700 students
contacts. The program has very positive feedback from parents
and teachers. It is apparent that Farm Safe Me is reaching
rural and farm families with lifesaving information and aiding
them in developing a sense of responsibility for the safety
of themselves and others on the farm.
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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
research abstract was extracted from a portion of the proceedings
of "Agricultural Safety and Health: Detection, Prevention and
Intervention," a conference presented by the Ohio State University
and the Ohio Department of Health, sponsored by the Centers
for Disease Control/National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health.
The
author noted above is from: Wayne County Health Department,
Wooster, OH.
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