Farm Safety For Kids

Started 10-14-2022

 

       Farming is one of the most dangerous occupations. We wives have always worried about our husbands and son as they worked the fields or handled livestock. But today more and more wives and daughters are actively working the farms. We ladies are more involved in caring for the livestock and operating the farm machinery so farm safety is the concern of every member of the farm family.

      Farm safety is not just about machine operation. It covers every area of farming. The handling of farm chemicals, care of livestock, hunting, farm visitors, weather, electrical, and much much more.

      We have come a long way in preventing farm accidents but one accident is still one too many. So let's see what we can learn about farm safety together.

Hi Kids! I'm Mr. Tom. Yep this my website. I have been involved in the agricultural industry for over 60 years. Every year many kids from the city visit farms for school trips. Agri-tourism is growing every year. Families are visiting all kinds of farms. I would like to share a few things you need to know when you visit a farm. I first shared this information with a couple groups kids several years ago. I was on a cattle farm in Southeast Ohio visiting a customer when a bus load of school kids on a farm tour stopped at his farm. It was their first stop of the day. When I noticed some of them reaching through a board fence to try to pet some of the cows I spoke up and told them to keep their fingers and hand on the same side of the fence as they were on to avoid their hand from being crushed against the fence. Well their teacher and the farmer asked me to talk to them about being safe while visiting the farm so here is what I shared with them.

  • They were on a farm not a playground. There were a lot of ways they could be hurt if they were careless. They needed to listen the farmer and teachers and heed their instructions.

  • Farm animals are not meant to be pets. They should try to touch only the animals that the farmer tells them they can safely touch and only feed them what the farmer says ok to feed to them.

  • Only approach a farm dog after the farmer says it is safe. Some farm dogs and cats do not like strangers.

  • Never reach through a fence or gate to pet any farm animal no matter how small or how tame they are. I have seen several people get their hands and fingers hurt having their hand caught between a fence and the animal. Even small animals like sheep or pigs can crush fingers between a gate or fence. I have seen this done several times by "friendly animals".

  • Move slow and quiet around the livestock. Even a pet cow of sheep can be scared by a quick unexpected motion and may jump or kick. This is really important when you are behind them. {See Sightlines below}

  • Be careful what you step on or pick up. Some things may look interesting by they may be sharp or rusty.

  • Be careful about what you climb on. Not all things that look ok to climb are not kid-safe.

Kids a visit to farm can be fun learning experience. Listen and obey the farmer and teachers and BE SAFE!

 

 

 

 

 

Agriculture4kids * Tom May  *  P.O. Box 111, Port Jefferson OH 45360-0111 *  Email: tom@agriculture4kids.com  * Phone: 937-507-9413