One in five farm-related injuries involves children under age 16

Posted 9/19/01

One in five farm-related injuries involves children under age 16

A farm can be a deadly place for children, especially in active work areas.
About one in five farmwork-related fatalities in Minnesota involves a child below age 16, according to John Shutske, farm safety and health specialist with the University of Minnesota Extension Service.
Younger children seem to be particularly vulnerable, especially the very young who are playing or watching work thatís going on.
ìWe have had several very tragic deaths of young toddlers who were playing or exploring the farm worksite while their parents did routine chores,î said Shutske.
ìWith both parents often working, both on and off the farm, very young children who are not being watched at all times are at a huge risk for death or injury on a farm.î
Child safety is a main focus of University of Minnesota farm safety education. A recent study by the University of Minnesota Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering shows the effort is far-reaching.
ìWe surveyed 83 of Minnesotaís 87 counties through county Extension offices,î says Stacey Madsen, farm safety and health Extension educator on the University of Minnesota campus.
ìWe wanted to find out what types of farm safety educational programs local Extension educators were implementing,î Madsen said.
Three-fourths of the counties surveyed were directly involved in educational initiatives for rural children concerning farm and other work-related hazards. ìWe found that more than 12,000 children participated in Extension-sponsored or coordinated educational events last year,î said Madsen.
ìIn addition, community members, parents and rural leaders volunteered thousands of hours working on this important issue,î according to Madsen.
In several counties, as many as 25 percent of all children under age 16 participated in farm safety and health educational programs in the year 2000, Madsen reported.
The University of Minnesota Farm Safety and Health Program provides materials, consultation and training demonstration ideas for other child safety efforts throughout the country.
For example, the program has developed child safety materials used by ìProgressive Farmerî magazine. This effort has reached more than 50,000 children nationwide.
Shutske said efforts to prevent serious injuries and fatalities among young people doing farmwork appear to be paying off.
ìWeíve been able to blanket the state with age-appropriate education for kids who are at the age when theyíre just beginning to do actual farmwork,î he said.
The University of Minnesota Farm Safety and Health Program website includes educational resources and research information on agricultural injury prevention and health promotion. Online, visit that site at www.bae.umn.edu/fs.