FARM SAFETY FOR CHILDREN 
Anthony Reed areed@lorman.alcorn.edu 

Spring means it is time once again for tiling and planting. Many youth in rural Counties help with the family farm on a regular basis. Safety on the farm is a major concern. It is sad to acknowledge, but probably each of you can name at least one person who has been injured or killed in an agriculture-related accident. The saddest part of this truth is that so many of the accidents were preventable.

Through 4-H, we can teach safety in all areas of home and farm from fire safety to handling pesticides. But youth learn from what they see, and if mom and dad do not follow safety recommendations, changes are their children will not either.

According to statistics from the National Safety Council, agricultural work accidents result in approximately 1300 deaths and 120,000 disabling injuries annually.

Thousands of farm and ranch residents suffer severe or fatal home, highway orrecreational accidents last year, most of which were preventable. A leading cause of work related illness suffered by farm workers in excessive exposure of toxic gases, chemicals, dust, sun, noise and other farming hazards.

Farming also has the additional hazard of the combination of work place and home. In most situations, people leave their homes and families to go to work, and families are not exposed to work place hazards. However, farm families are exposed to work place hazards around the clock, and safety should be a part of everyday life.

Far too many farming and ranching accidentsinvolve children, who are at increased risk from workplace hazard. Children often begin helping with farm work at an early age even operatingmachinery and vehicles designed for operation by adults. Let us protect our children by assigning them jobs suited to their age and capability.

Work related injuries and illness often could be prevented through simple, sensible measures that involve little or no extra time, effort or expense. These measurers include the proper and consistent use of standard and protective equipment,controlling exposure to toxic chemicals and gases and training everyone on the ranch or farm in safety procedures and first aid.

By being aware of the potential safety hazards you can help to make your home and farm a safer place for you and your family for moreinformation on the 4-H Safety Protection contact the County Extension Office.