Students take in Farm Safety Day at Lacombe County

Grade five students from communities in and around Lacombe County were given a crash course in farm safety on Friday.
 
The County held its second annual Farm Safety Day at its head office on Highway 12.
 
Students were given the rundown on safety as it pertains to horses, electrical, fire, grain, heavy equipment, ATVs and mowers.
 
Mark Sproule, Senior Community Peace Officer with Lacombe County, says with new helmet legislation having come out in May there’s no better time to talk about safety while riding all-terrain vehicles.
 
“You look around the rural agricultural community and pretty much every farm you step onto, ATVs are a component and tool used in day to day operations,” he says. “So at a very young age, we have children and kids that are exposed to operating these and there are some significant dangers.”
 
Ways to reduce the risk is by wearing appropriate protective equipment, such as a helmet and long clothing, as well as carrying items one might need in an emergency like food and a compass.
 
Sproule also points out that Lacombe County has an off-road vehicle bylaw which allows the use of ATVs on everyday roadways as long as you have the proper license.
 
Lindsay Vink, a Labourer with the County, explained to kids the basics of mowing the lawn, but also about larger mowers.
 
“In a rural area, I’d say it’s [kids using mowers] more frequent. Kids [are okay to do so], just as long as they know what they’re doing and feel comfortable doing it, and they’ve been taught the basics and have supervision too,” she says.
 
“The first thing I ask the kids when they come is if they’ve heard of anybody who’s been injured by a lawnmower. Half the group — they know someone who’s been injured. It’s high risk.”
 
Krista Pannenbecker with Environmental and Protective Services estimates up to 50 per cent of kids in Lacombe County and nearby communities live on a farm.
 
“Maybe the kids live in the cities or towns, but they do have friends who live out on the farm and it’s always great to go quadding or ride the horses their friend from school has,” she says. “Even though they’re not their all the time, in most cases, that is when accidents would happen.”
 
“Lots of accidents that are reported tend to be things that you do everyday that maybe you’re not being cautious about because you’ve done it so much. That’s when accidents happen, especially with kids.”