By Linda Geist
Your smartphone can improve farm safety during calving or planting this spring, says University of Missouri Extension state specialist for health and safety Karen Funkenbusch.
The spring farming season is filled with hazards. Farmers often work alone in remote areas of the farm while equipment moves along rural roadways, pesticides are applied and planting is a race against spring rains. Severe weather—tornadoes, heavy winds and flooding—is also more likely this time of year.
Because of these risks, keeping friends, family and coworkers aware of your location is essential. If you’re not familiar with smartphone safety features, ask a family member or neighbor to show you how to use these important tools. The specific steps to activate these features may vary based on your phone’s operating system and manufacturer.
Essential phone features for farm safety
Enable location sharing: Turn on location sharing through Settings. Your location is visible only to the contacts you choose, and the setting stays on until you turn it off. A handwritten note, such as “I’m checking cows on the Dodge place,” might help family, but location services can pinpoint your exact location, saving responders time when every minute counts.
Learn to text: Text messages require less signal strength than voice calls, making them more reliable in remote areas.
Use voice activation: Learn how to use your phone’s voice-activated assistant. For example, on iPhones you can press your power button and say, “Siri, call 911.”
Source : missouri.edu