The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Jennifer Dance, Quill Staff
Progressive Farmer, along with others, sponsored a Farm Safety Program for the seventh graders of Henderson and Warren counties on Friday, October 1 at the Henderson County Fair Grounds.
It was a cold and windy day for the seventh graders, but the presenters kept items that were discussed very interesting. There were groups of approximately 20 students who walked to eight different stations during the day to listen to the presenters.
Jeanette Gallagher, a safety instructor at the ATV Safety Institute, met her group under the shelter in front of the arena and talked to the students about the importance of ATV safety. Ms. Gallagher stressed many times to always wear your helmet. She instructed the seventh graders to never carry a passenger, to stand up and lean forward when going up a hill and to slide to the back when riding down a hill. She told them to never ride on public roads, to avoid paved roads and to ride only on designated trails for ATV's. She had a dirt bike and an ATV on display for the students to admire.
J. Carson, from the McDonough County Dive and Rescue Team talked to the kids about how to be safe in the water. He told them that a person cannot breath with the aid of a tube if the person is under more than 2 feet of water. A person's lungs cannot expand if that far under water. The air tanks that divers wear are filled with compressed air that allows the lungs to inflate thus allowing a person to breath.
Mr. Carson also demonstrated a proper water rescue with seventh grader, Austin Hartman. Austin was successfully rescued and brought "back to shore."
How to avoid farm accidents was another topic presented to the groups. Mr. Don Earp of Roseville and his daughter, Susan Cozza of St. Louis, Missouri told the story of how they were both hurt at separate times while using the same tractor. Mrs. Cozza, a teacher in St. Louis, was the first to be hurt while discing a field. The tractor caught on a tree stump that was hidden from her view. She was jolted off the tractor while the machine was still in motion. The tractor made a complete circle and was coming back to where Susan lay. She was able to get out of its way, but sustained many injuries. Her father, Don Earp, was on the same tractor when it rolled. "I always thought if it happened, I could jump out of its way quick enough, but it only takes 1 1/2 seconds for a tractor to turn over when it starts. I wasn't quick enough." Mr. Earp also sustained many injuries, but like his daughter, has recovered.
"The doctors told both my daughter and me that we were in extremely good health at the time of the accidents and that it helped us recover more easily. I think that is an important part of it too (farm safety), staying healthy and fit." Mr. Earp and his daughter did a great job in communicating this to the seventh graders. After the two accidents, the Earp family discarded the tractor and got a new one.
The Earps had a few safety pointers for the students... Always let someone know where you will be and when you will be back; wear the seat belt, whether it is on a riding lawn mower, a tractor or a car; and if possible, use a tractor with a cab.
According to the Earps, farming is the second most dangerous occupation.
The Director of Education at Community Medical Center in Monmouth talked to the students about what to do if you are in or around an accident. He instructed the students about frostbite and how to treat it. He defined it as ice crystals that form in your tissues. If a person is at risk, they need to rinse their fingers, or whatever is at risk with lukewarm water and then immediately dry them. However, if you are going to go back outside, do not use the water because it will freeze on to the skin causing further damage.
The students had an interesting time seeing how difficult life would be if they lost an arm in a farming accident.
They lined up in four different groups and had a relay race spreading peanut butter on a piece of bread, tying their shoes and signing their name, all while using only one arm.
Volunteers from all of the schools made and served the seventh graders lunch at "The Fort."
At the end of the day the students were treated to a presentation from Live Line Demo, Inc located in Alvin. The owner, Kyle Finley, demonstrates an electrical safety program using 120 volts to 7,200 volts of electricity.
He had an amazing set-up of a power line and showed the children what 7,200 volts of electricity looked like when sparked.
He told the students that something as simple as a mylar balloon, which is made of metal, can cause a power outage if caught in a power line.
The seventh graders were given some vital information throughout the day.
They all walked away a little more aware of the dangers that surround them in a farming community and how to avoid them.
Maybe one of them will save you someday?