Awareness key to keeping kids safe

It’s only six words but they can be crucial when doing anything on a farm – “Slow down, think twice, be safe.”

Emily Krekelberg is a University of Minnesota-Extension educator on farm safety and health. She said that sentiment should be used when doing anything on a farm, particularly when there are other people around.

“Whether it’s harvesting, planting or anything in between, that can save us a lot of trouble,” she said. “Just slow down and think twice.”

That’s particularly important when it comes to children. Krekelberg said there are inherent risks when it comes to operating machinery that become enhanced with young people nearby. Almost 33 children are involved in some sort of agricultural accident each day, and every three days there is an ag-related death of a child.