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University of Minnesota Extension Service
Some
150,000 to 200,000 children are injured on U.S. farms and
ranches each year, according to the National Children's Safety
Network. How can rural children and their city friends learn
about safety hazards on the farm?
A new
set of fun, educational materials developed by the University
of Minnesota Extension Service's Farm Safety and Health Program
can help teachers, 4-H leaders, extension educators, and other
rural leaders looking for educational resources. "We've developed
some fun ways to teach kids about serious matters, like deadly
manure pit gases, tractor rollovers, and livestock handling,"
says Michele Schermann, who designed the teaching materials.
John
Shutske, U of M extension farm safety and health specialist,
says, "Our evaluations of successful youth education programs
show that kids learn important safety skills when the material
is presented in a fun, hands-on fashion. Our materials emphasize
hazard recognition and avoidance."
The
farm safety topics set is appropriate for school-age children
and pre-teens. While aimed at farm children, the principles
apply to all children whether they live on a farm, visit the
farm, or have never been to a farm.
Each
set of plans includes a printed list of teaching objectives,
a materials list for building a demonstration from easy-to-find
materials, discussion topics, and a list of printed and audio
visual resource materials available from the Minnesota Extension
Service and other agencies. Farm safety topics in the set
include: lawnmower safety, reaction time, manure pit dangers,
and tractor rollover protection.
The
parts of the set can be used individually or all at one time
such as at a "farm safety camp." The materials can also be
used in school to teach other topics. "For example," Schermann
says, "the tractor rollover demonstration can be used by teachers
in a science class to demonstrate laws of motion and principles
of gravity and acceleration."
For
more information on ordering these farm safety materials,
contact Michele Schermann at (612) 624-7444.
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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
Web,DTN,V4MN,V5MN,A4,E4
NAGR5336
Source:
John Shutske, (612) 626-1250, shutske@gaia.bae.umn.edu
Editor: Joseph Kurtz, EDS, (612) 625-3168,
pkurtz@mes.umn.edu
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