The past few days have been great for getting things done. It was encouraging to see the trucks and combines along the roads wasn’t it? The great weather is going to hold and that means we are going to get those fields picked!
I noticed on Saturday that the fields were FULL of families. EVERYONE was pitching in to take advantage of the balmy weather and clear skies. It is a farm tradition, isn’t it? No matter what the family does, when the fields are ready, the family gets together. That means that even the folks from out of town show up to pitch in!
This weekend we all got a lot done, and we were lucky. Some folks had weekends that did not end so great.
An 8-year-old boy was airlifted for treatment of significant leg injuries after a farm accident Saturday in Indiana. Police say the boy was scooped up by machinery cutting corn in a field near County Road 35. Investigators say he apparently was playing in the yard and ran into the field, in front of the farm equipment. Both of his legs were crushed.
Should I bring up the 2 year old boy killed Thursday by his own father who ran him over with a skid loader?
Just so you don’t think machinery is the only problem, how about the 9 year old run over by a horse drawn hay wagon this weekend?
Folks, this blog is supposed to be about safety, not just weather-related factoids and trivia, so seatbelt cause I am gonna yell…
Tractor accidents are the number one cause of farm fatalities, and unfortunately, many of those victims are children. There’s a million ways for a kid to die in this world, and most of them are on a farm.
Tractor safety is something that I have never been good at. I grew up with my Uncle giving me rides on the fenders…after all, that little oblong “handle-hole” is for underage riders, right? WRONG! Perhaps one of the oldest traditions since the invention of the steam engine is to give your kids or your grandkids a ride on that tractor. Nothing is more fun than to watch the kids come in for a weekend from the city for a “piece of country living”, but statistics say they stand a good chance of leaving in pieces if you’re not careful!
Do not think for a moment that tractor cabs keep riders safe. A cab is designed to protect the operator and does not prevent the rider (ANY RIDER) from being thrown and/or run over.
The rule is this:
NO SEAT-NO RIDER.
Now maybe you would never think of grabbing your kid or grandkid and swinging them up to hitch a ride, but are you being careful to make sure that the family does not play near the tractor?
“Grandpa! Grandpa!”
She bounces across the field with that jug of tea. She only wants to help; to connect with you… to visit for a moment and to have you tell her that she is getting bigger every day…
Unfortunately you did not see her. A flash of pink gingham and you know something is wrong but you never heard her and you certainly never felt the wheels as they rolled over her small and fragile body…
What would you do? Could you live with yourself?
Tractors are responsible for 41% of the accidental farm deaths of children under 15 years of age yet 4 out of 5 children regularly ride farm tractors! While riding the tractor may be a family tradition, remember…it is easier to bury a tradition than to bury a child.
Please visit The Child Agricultural Safety Network website to find out more about kids and tractors. http://www.childagsafety.org/
