2005 Year in Review

Safety and Kids on the Farm

- Kids and Pickup Trucks: Without a doubt, one of the most attractive places for a young child to play is in the back of a pickup truck zooming down a country highway. Unfortunately though, the bed of a pickup truck provides absolutely no protection against certain injury or death if a crash or overturn occurs. And even a small bump can bounce a lightweight young child out onto the highway into the path of oncoming traffic. Make sure children are properly protected with a seatbelt or child safety seat inside the vehicle. It’s for your child’s safety, and it’s the law!

- Extra Riders on Tractors: During the past year, several Illinois farm children have died after falling off a tractor and then being run over by the tractor or trailing equipment. A farm tractor weighs several tons and should not be viewed as a toy! The injuries caused when a child is run over are often fatal because of the tractor’s massive weight. Keep children and other extra riders off all tractors. A tractor cab does not offer adequate protection to riders. Take the time to teach your children about farm safety. Someday…it could save their life.

- Proper Supervision: A young child playing in a dangerous farm work environment often ends with tragic results. The grief, anger, and feelings of loss caused by a childhood farm accident is devastating for the family. Make sure children living on or visiting your farm have the proper care and supervision while you’re outside busy with chores, fieldwork and other farm activities. Hiring a babysitter, or other childcare provider, is a difficult and sometimes costly decision for farm families. But, it’s one that will keep your child and their future out of harm’s way.

- Use Barriers to Protect Kids on Farms: Farm children below the age of five are notorious for their curiosity and desire to help with potentially dangerous farm activities. Make sure that young children living on your farm are properly supervised. And, make sure that all potentially dangerous farm work areas are properly protected. Machinery and chemical storage buildings should be locked. Grain bins, manure pits, lagoons, and ponds must be protected with fences to keep young children away. Farms with young children should have a fenced in designated play area to help prevent children from wondering into the farm work areas.

by  Editor, theCity1.com
April 26, 2005