“There are approximately two million farms in the United States. There are also approximately 900,000 kids who live on farms, and more than half (51%) work on the farms where they live. Farms annually hire an additional 265,000 youth workers. Due to the high risk of injury from off-road vehicles, machinery, and livestock, farms are a dangerous place for kids to work and play.” (AgFax.com, 2018)

The following are statistics from the 2017 Fact Sheet on Childhood Agricultural Injuries in the U.S.:

Deaths

• Every three days a child dies in an agriculture-related incident
• Of the leading sources of fatalities among all youth, 25% involved machinery, 17% involved motor vehicles (includes ATV), and 16% were drownings.
• For working youth, tractors were the leading source of fatalities, followed by ATVs.

Injuries

• Everyday about 33 children are injured in agriculture-related incidents.
• In 2014, an estimated 7, 469 youth were injured on farms where they live and 60% of them were not working when the injury occurred.
• An estimated 738 hired youth were injured on farms in 2014.
• Approximately 3,735 visiting youth were injured on farms in 2014.
• Vehicles were the leading source of injury for household working youth.
• Animals were the leading source of injury for both household non-working youth and visitors.

As youth and their families continue to farm and/or utilize farm machinery and equipment (including ATVs), it is imperative that we continue to provide Farm Safety Education.

The Farm Safety Day is held at the Central KY Ag/Expo Center for 5^th grade students during the school day. Students are bused to and from school for the program with transportation covered under the Memorandum of Agreement with the Casey County Board of Education. Throughout the day the students listen and participate in safety presentations consisting of Lawnmower Safety, PTO (Power Take-Off) Safety, ATV (All-Terrain Vehicle) Safety, and Grain Bin Rescue (NEW). Paramedics, Police, and Fire Fighters also speak with the students about safety procedures and tips on being safe. In addition Air Evac sends a helicopter and paramedics to speak with the students about what they do and allows them to walk through the helicopter. The students are provided with a sack lunch from school. An additional snack is sponsored by Casey County Soil Conservation, Casey County Cattlemen’s Association and Casey County Farm Bureau for all students, teachers, and volunteers. 

The Grain Bin Rescue was purchased by the Ag Development Board and was presented by a local farmer. The rescue is a fairly simple piece of equipment that provides life-saving opportunities. The equipment is similar to a plastic tube that is inserted into a grain bin in which someone must be rescued. An augur is used to remove the grain while allowing the victim to be brought to the surface to be rescued. 

ATV equipment for demonstrations were provided by local community members and volunteers and the State 4-H Office. The lawnmower and tractor were provided by local businesses.  

A total of 178 5^th grade students and teachers, 20 FFA students and advisors, and 40 instructors participated in the 2018 Farm Safety Day.