September 18th was the first day of National Farm Safety Week. I had talked with Mr. Kenny Brammell, the East Carter FFA  instructor and Mr. Will Davis, the West Carter FFA instructor and learned that they wanted to combine the two schools to do a farm safety program at East Carter High School for the two schools. I asked them about the possibility of the Extension Office teaming up with them and doing a second program in the evening for the adults at our Annual Farm and Family Field Day. Dale Dobson, from KDA was contacted and it was on for September 18th. A planning meeting involving Dale Dobson, East and West Carter FFA, Carter Co. Sherriff Dept, Olive Hill Fire Department, and Carter County Rescue Squad, all came together at East Carter High School on Sept. 5th to lay out the plan. On Sept. 14th, Agent, East and West Carter FFA, and Olive Hill Fire Department met  with Bonnie Eusner at Chestnut Hill Farm, the host farm for the Farm and Family Field Day, to survey the location agent had selected for the helicopter landing site. The site was perfect and Mrs. Eusner was very excited about the plan and said she would have the area mowed for us. On, Sunday, Sept. 17th., the whole crew came together again to set up for both programs. A crashed car and ATV were put in place for a mock ATV head on crash with a car. FFA students rehearsed their parts as victims in the car and the ATV. Then the group went out to Chestnut Hill Farm to take the tractor out to the location and roll it over. A time schedule was worked out for the helicopter landing at the school and at the farm. All was a go at this point.

   At 9:00am on Sept. 18th, 1300 students assembled on the East Carter High School football field. A student drove an ATV into a head on crash with a car with two passengers. The ATV driver was thrown from the ATV, the passenger in the car was thrown through the windshield. 911 was called by a student bystander, the sheriff, rescue squad, fire department, ambulance service and coroner all arrived at the scene within minutes. The victims were all covered in blood, one of which was pronounced dead at the scene. The helicopter arrived but could not land due to heavy fog, so all 3 victims were transported out by ambulance. All 1300 students were so quiet that you could have heard a pin drop as the ambulances drove away. Some were close to tears as it all seemed so real. This became a very teachable moment as Dale Dobson drove the point home with his talk about the risks that kids take every day and how some end tragically and some are prevented by taking safety precautions.

    As the students left the football field to resume classes, the crew regrouped to head out to Chestnut Hill Farm for the Farm and Family Field day program. By 6:00pm, 225 people had assembled at the farm. 125 of which climbed on one of four trailers for the hay ride and farm tour. The first stop was in the pasture field where we came upon a tractor roll over accident where a farmer and his son who was riding on the tractor fender had over turned and were pinned under the tractor. Both were covered with blood and 911 was called. The sheriff's office, Olive Hill Fire Department, Grahn Rescue Squad, and Coroner all arrived at the scene. Jacks were used to raise the tractor and free the two victims. The helicopter circled and then landed. One victim was alive but critically wounded and was carried up to the helicopter for transport. The other victim was pronounced dead at the scene by the coroner. He was surrounded by rescue personnel so he would not be visible to by standers to show respect for the dead as he was loaded into the ambulance. Again, you could have heard a pin drop as Amazing Grace was played on bagpipes, as the ambulance pulled away.

   Another teachable moment as                          from the Olive Hill Fire Department spoke about how quickly a simple joy ride can result in death.

     Our thanks goes out to the 25 volunteer rescue personnel and the                                 for making this all possible.