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More kids on farms means more chances for accidents

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the risk of young people being injured on the farm.

Marsha Salzwedel with the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety says under normal circumstances, farming is one of the most hazardous jobs in the U.S. 

But with schools and many daycares currently closed because of the outbreak, the number of kids potentially in harm’s way has spiked.

“So that increases the number of children that are on the farm who potentially can enter onto the worksite, and it also puts added stress and strain on parents and any adults there as well.”

She tells Brownfield one of the Center’s biggest strategies for protecting children is to not take them into the worksite.

“So the fact that there are more kids on the farm and the ranch may incentivize parents, or make it easier for parents to take those kids out into the worksite and give them rides in tractors and that type of thing. Which is a very, very dangerous practice to do.”

Salzwedel also recommends creating a safe secure place on the farm with barriers to prevent smaller children from running out in front of equipment.

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