Posted 9/12/01 Farm work emergency response manual can be a lifesaving resource If youíre a member of a Minnesota farm family, thereís close to a 20 percent chance that you or a member of your family will be seriously hurt while doing farmwork in the coming year. University of Minnesota studies consistently show this, according to John Shutske, farm safety and health specialist with the U of M Extension Service. A family memberís life can hang in the balance when a farmwork injury occurs, so knowing how to respond is critical. A manual available from the U of M called ěFirst on the Sceneî is an invaluable resource for this, says Shutske. ěThe 45-page manual walks farm family members and other interested readers through the process of responding to common farm emergencies,î says Shutske. ěIt covers machinery entanglements, tractor overturns, grain suffocations, silo gas exposure and overexposure to pesticides.î The manual was written by a team of farm safety experts from across the nation. It features graphics that illustrate events that commonly occur on farms. It also has 11 ědecision treesî that help step a person through an appropriate and safe response to common farm emergencies. Shutske recommends the manual as a resource and discussion starter for all farm families. ěKnowing how to respond to a catastrophic situation also plants seeds of prevention in the minds of family members," Shutske points out. ěThis manual is an ideal handout for farm safety workshops, clinics and other events designed for farm owners, workers and parents.î ěFirst on the Sceneî is available from the U of M Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering. The cost is $7.46 per copy, which includes 6.5 percent sales tax for Minnesota residents. To order, send a check payable to the University of Minnesota to: First on the Scene-NRAES 12, c/o Midwest Plan Service, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department, University of Minnesota, 1390 Eckles Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108. ©Post Review