1000 SW Jackson
Suite 230
Topeka, KS 66612-1274
(785) 296-1223
(785) 296-8645 (FAX)

Coordinator:
Jan Stegelman

Executive Committee:
Randall Bolin
NHTSA Region VII

Dennis Cooley, MD
Medical Advisor
American Academy of
Pediatrics, Kansas
Chapter

John Drees
Douglas County
SAFE KIDS Coalition

Vanda Easley
State Farm Insurance
Companies

Jim Keating
Kansas State
Firefighters Association

Elena Nuss
Kansas State
Fire Marshal's Office

Cindy Samuelson
Kansas Hospital Association

Kansas SAFE KIDS Helps Kids Stay Injury-free for
Farm Safety and Health Week September 19-25.

In many rural communities across the nation, people make a living off the land. Farming is often a family affair, with kids lending a helping hand with a variety of tasks. Whether they're planting seeds, harvesting fruits and vegetables or tackling other daily chores, farming requires intense - and sometimes dangerous - labor . That's why Kansas SAFE KIDS is raising awareness of these issues during Farm Safety and Health Week, September 19-25.

Each year, approximately 70 children ages 14 and under die and an estimated 22,600 are injured on farms and ranches. These injuries happen especially often to male children under the age of 14, during the summer months, on weekends and during evening hours.

" Children love the animals, fresh air and toy-like equipment that can be found on farms ," said Jan Stegelman, Coordinator of Kansas SAFE KIDS. " But they sometimes don't understand the dangers that the farm environment presents. Children may seem physically able to drive a tractor, but mentally they often lack the maturity and judgment to handle the machine safely ."

Kansas SAFE KIDS suggests the following safety tips for parents for

Farming Safely with Children:

Ages 4 and under

•  Constantly supervise young children inside the house, and keep them in a fenced-off play area away from farming activities when outside.

•  Prohibit children from riding or playing on farm machinery, even with an adult present.

•  Do not allow a child to operate or play with any type of outdoor power equipment, even when it is not in use.

Ages 5 to 6

•  Supervise children inside the house and outdoors at all times.

•  Assign simple indoor tasks, such as cleaning rooms or watering plants.

•  Allow children to feed and care for small household pets.

Ages 7 to 9

•  Enroll children in safety courses and discuss safety with them to ensure proper behavior on the farm.

•  Review safety rules with your child before designating a task.

Ages 10 to 11

•  Enroll children in safety courses and discuss safety with them to ensure proper behavior on the farm.

•  Allow children to assist with the handling of animals.

•  Teach children how to assist with outdoor projects such as raking, digging or cleaning barns and stalls.

Ages 12 to 14

•  Set clear and consistent rules, and discuss the consequences and rewards for following them.

•  Enroll adolescents in equipment safety courses.

•  Gradually increase the use of supplies and tools. Never allow young adolescents to operate tractors, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) or other heavy machinery.

For more information on child safety, or to order a copy of SAFE KIDS magazine with more tips on keeping your kids safe, visit www.safekids.org or contact Kansas SAFE KIDS at 785-296-1223.

Kansas SAFE KIDS, Inc. is a nonprofit Coalition of 67 statewide organizations and businesses dedicated to preventing unintentional injuries to Kansas children ages 0-14. Local coalitions and chapters are located in Allen, Anderson, Atchison, Clay, Dickinson, Doniphan, Douglas, Ford, Franklin, Geary, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Marion, Montgomery, Nemaha, Osage, Pottawatomie, Republic, Rice, Saline, Shawnee, Wabaunsee, and Woodson Counties, as well as Chanute, Leavenworth, Manhattan, Norton, Pittsburg, and Wichita.