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Vol. 4, No. 3, July 2003
Contents
THOUGHTS & QUOTES
Don't build a false sense of security!
Safety specialists and tractor manufacturers continue to remind
people of the importance of the rollbar and seatbelt system for
saving lives in the event of a tractor overturn. These ROPS (Rollover
Protection Structures) are to be a design that is approved for
use with a specific tractor model. Homemade ROPS are not recommended
because they may not be properly designed, built, or installed.
A recent rear overturn resulted in the
death of the 15-year-old boy who was operating the tractor. The
tractor was equipped with a ROPS. However, upon investigation,
it was a homemade ROPS and it was only anchored to the axle at
the top. With the impact of the overturn the ROPS separated from
the tractor and was ineffective. In this case the tractor looked
'safe' since it had a ROPS -- however, not a ROPS that was designed
or installed properly.
For more information on ROPS check the
section on Frequently Asked Questions about ROPS in the Safer
Tractor Operations publication: http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/docs/d001501-d001600/d001596/d001596.html
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HELMET SAFETY REMINDERS
"Parents may think that it is a
good idea to purchase an equestrian helmet that is too big so
that their child will 'grow into it.' Parents may then have the
child wear a hat under the helmet to provide what appears to
be an appropriate fit. This is potentially dangerous. During
a violent fall from a horse, anything worn under the helmet can
allow it to slide out of position. Since equestrian helmets (like
all helmets) are designed to receive impacts to certain areas
of the head, a displaced helmet may not give full protection.
Objects on the hat are also of concern. The metal knob commonly
sewn into the top of baseball caps can transfer and concentrate
energy-at-impact to an extremely small area of the skull.
Although purchasing a helmet that is
too large may reduce the number of helmets bought, the risk is
not worth the savings. Always purchase a proper-fitting equestrian
helmet and wear it every ride.
This information also applies to bicycle
helmets."
-- from the Quarterly Newsletter of the
National Children's Center for Rural and Agricultural Health
and Safety. Vol. 6 No. 1 Spring 2003
For more information on equestrian safety
check the National Ag Safety Database http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/menu/topic/animals.html and scroll down the page to Horses. There are
several good publications to select from.
Also check the Children's Center Web
site:
http://research.marshfieldclinic.org/children/Resources/default.htm
In the Fact Sheets and following sections look for the topic:
Children and Horses
If you are doing an activity with a group
you may want to use the Heather on Horseback interactive story.
This is about a teenage girl who did not use her helmet and was
paralyzed as a result of being thrown from her horse. It can
be found at: http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/docs/d000901-d001000/d000997/9.html
Scroll down the page (it is towards the bottom) and find the
related documents.
CREATING SAFE PLAY
AREAS ON FARMS PUBLICATION
The publication Creating Safe Play Areas
on Farms has just been released by the National Children's Center
for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety. The publication
can be ordered by calling the Center at 888-924-7233 or it can
be downloaded from the Web site:
http://research.marshfieldclinic.org/nfmc/default.asp?doc=safePlay_about.xml
This contains useful information for
developing safe play areas in farm or rural settings. It has
information that can be useful for people with small farms or
acreages as well. This is something that could be used in a parent
session at a safety day camp for example.
RHYTHM OF THE SEASONS
VIDEO RECEIVES BLUE RIBBON AWARD
The Rhythm of the Seasons video recently
received a Blue Ribbon Award in
the ASAE Extension Educational Aids Competition in the "Films,
Satellite
Conferences, Video Tapes and Electronic Presentations" category.
This is
the highest award possible.
Information about the video and about
the lesson plan developed to
accompany it can be found at the Florida
AgSafe Web site.
REMINDER OF NEW MATERIALS
ON NASD
Just a reminder that new materials continue
to be added to the National Ag
Safety Database. Check the 'What's New' section on the site at:
http://www.cdc.gov/nasd
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SAFETY
NEWS & NOTES is an e-mail
newsletter prepared by Carol J.
Lehtola, Extension Agricultural Safety Specialist. Design Team
FL 124:
Prevention and Preparedness: Agricultural Safety & Disaster
Management.
If you have safety or disaster related questions or ideas that
you would
like to share with other agents, please let me know. If you know
someone
interested in receiving this, we will gladly add them to the
e-mail
list.
BE AWARE!
BE ALERT!
BE ALIVE!
Florida AgSafe Web site:
http://www.flagsafe.ufl.edu
The Disaster Handbook: http://disaster.ifas.ufl.edu
National Agricultural Safety
Database: http://www.cdc.gov/nasd
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