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THOUGHTS & QUOTES
Farm Safety 4 Just Kids Founder Marilyn Adams Wins Top AwardAt a gala event in New York City on March 19, 2008, Volvo announced that Marilyn Adams, founder of Farm Safety 4 Just Kids, had been named "America's Greatest Hometown Hero" in the 6th Annual "Volvo for Life" competition, the largest-ever national search for and celebration of everyday heroes. Marilyn's work to spread the word about hazards to children on farms and the impact of Farm Safety 4 Just Kids were cited as major reasons for the award. Anne Belec, president and chief executive officer for Volvo Cars of North America, said, "Marilyn Adams' determination to keep kids safe on farms makes her a true hero, setting an example we can all strive for." In November 2007, Volvo selected the top 40 heroes in America and asked the public to visit the Volvo for life Awards Web site and vote for their favorite unsung hometown hero. Volvo received hundreds of thousands of votes from across the country. A panel of distinguished judges -- including Hank Aaron, Sen. Bill Bradley, Maya Lin, Dr. Sally Ride, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Dr. Mae Jemison and Edsel B. Ford II -- selected the program's top three winners in the categories of Safety, Quality of Life and Environment. Adams was the Safety category winner. Adams received a $100,000 charitable contribution and a new Volvo every three years for the rest of her life in recognition of her accomplishments. Since the inception of the program in 2002, Volvo has awarded millions of dollars in contributions to support the work of everyday heroes. Marilyn's journey began in 1986, when her 11-year-old-son, Keith, was killed by submersion in flowing grain in a grain wagon. She tells this story and the year of recovery in the book "Rhythm of the Seasons." A video and teaching materials based on this story are also available. EDEN Animal Agrosecurity On-line CourseThe EDEN Animal Agrosecurity and Emergency Management Course will prepare you with the knowledge and skills necessary to teach others in your community how to:
Materials provided with this EDEN course are available for use at workshops and/or community awareness presentations. They include:
The EDEN Animal Agrosecurity and Emergency Management Course is available online on the EDEN Web site. Summer Dangers of Children’s Foot BurnsWarm weather means more outdoor activities, including bonfires, camping trips, and picnics. Researchers at the University of Florida recommend caution around the remains of any fire. They reviewed 155 cases of burns to children's feet and ankles and found that almost 70% of these injuries were caused when the children walked on hot ashes, coals, and embers. Some of these injuries happened a day or more after the fires were believed to be extinguished. At greatest risk were children under 5, and most victims were either barefoot or wearing open footwear such as sandals. Dr. Elizabeth Beierle said that the best prevention is to learn how to extinguish a fire properly. NASS 2006 Farm & Ranch Safety SurveyThe National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its 2006 survey of farm and ranch safety on January 17, 2008. Results were based on a random telephone survey of 25,000 farm operations, and it was conducted by NASS for the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The study covered the period 9/2005-9/2006. The study estimated that 60% of tractors currently in use have roll-over protective structures (ROPS). The percentage varied by region from 65% in the South to 51% in the Northeast. It was estimated that there were 6700 roll-overs during the study period. Tractors without ROPS accounted for a disproportionate number, 63%, of the rollovers. In other findings, high percentages of those surveyed indicated that shields were in place on implements, including balers and mowers. About 40,000 operators had manure pits, and a majority of operators had not entered the pit during the study year. Only 35% of pits were equipped with power ventilation fans. Other topics covered by the survey included ATVs, farm structures, underground power lines, augers and personal protective equipment. FEMA On-line CoursesReaders of this newsletter are well aware that FEMA offers a wide variety of on-line training courses. Two new courses that may be of interest cover the topic of business continuity. This term is being heard more and more and refers to the best ways to keep a business going during an emergency and how to most quickly recover if an emergency brings operations to a halt. The new courses are:
Dog-bite Prevention Week is May 18-24Each year, 800,000 Americans seek medical attention for dog bites; half of these are children. Of those injured, 386,000 require treatment in an emergency department and about a dozen die. The rate of dog bite-related injuries is highest for children ages 5 to 9 years, and the rate decreases as children age. Almost two thirds of injuries among children ages four years and younger are to the head or neck region. Injury rates for boys are about 35% higher than for girls. Read the entire story, including prevention tips and FAQs about rabies. CDC Report on Non-Fatal Dog Bites in 2001 Abandoned Pets Increase with Foreclosure IncreaseWe are all hearing about the mortgage and foreclosure problems affecting record numbers of Americans. An unexpected consequence of this situation is that many homeowners abandon their pets as well as their homes. Sometimes the animals are allowed to roam or they are dumped at a farm. Sometimes they are left tethered or caged and are found in desperate condition. Evidence is anecdotal, but wherever the housing crunch is the most severe, local animal shelters are noticing an increase in numbers of abandoned pets. Animal care workers are also getting a lot of phone calls from distraught homeowners anxious about finding a place for a pet before they are evicted. Traci Jennings, president of the Humane Society of Stanislaus County in California recommends that as difficult as it is, homeowners should make that call and plan ahead for their pets. A trip to the shelter is no guarantee of a happy ending for a pet, but at a shelter, pets will have food, water and some attention, and if worse comes to worst, a humane ending. Read the complete CNN report on this story. Pointers for Purchasing Used Ag Equipment"Not Everything Gets Better with Age" is the title of a recent article in Agricultural Safety and Health News from Penn State, which offers some good advice about what to look out for when purchasing used ag equipment. "When is a Bargain Not a Bargain" might have been another good title for this information. While purchasing used equipment can save money, this equipment frequently has defects that will endanger the new owners, such as lack of signage, signals, seatbelts, and guards, among others. Other hazards are lurking beneath the surface, because even if all the parts are there, improper maintenance can make them weak and ineffective at a critical moment. Read the complete story and build your own checklist for used equipment. Also, Hand-me-down Hazards: Danger of Used Equipment, a UF publication, may be helfpul. Safety Resources from CaterpillarCaterpillar has created an in-depth safety site, SAFETY.CAT.COM. At the site, information is offered about personal safety issues, including traditional safety topics and envirionmental issues. An area called "Toolbox Tales" reinforces the need for regular safety training and discussions in the workplace. Numerous topics in this series are accompanied by a one-page guide of tips, reminders, and topics for discussion. Safety features of specific Caterpillar products are also highlighted, and on-line videos are included. Protecting Poultry Workers from Avian InfluenzaEvery year, we receive encouragements and warnings to get our flu shots. Many workplaces have programs to administer the shots. Flu -- influenza -- is caused by a family of viruses that are constantly changing in subtle ways, so each year the flu shot is prepared to match the kind of flu that is going around. To tell flu viruses apart, they are often given "HN" labels. Not all flu viruses can affect people, however, there is great concern in the public health community about the potential for a variety of flu that affects birds to enter the human population where it could cause a significant epidemic. By nature, the bird flu is not likely to transfer to people, but people who work with poultry are at higher risk of contracting this disease. The National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH) has prepared materials on this topic. "Protecting Poultry Workers from Avian Influenza" is a collection of resources that cover recommendations for workers and employers, background information, frequently asked questions, reported outbreaks, and additional references. [top]  |
