We should all be aware that farming is a dangerous occupation. In fact, it rates right up there with coal mining and Alaskan commercial fishing. And young people on the farm are especially at risk. Marsha Salzwedel, with the National Farm Medicine Center reminds us that young people, age 18 and under, often lack the judgement of adults and can easily put themselves at risk.



Children are on the worksite because a farm is not an ordinary workplace; it is a home and a lifestyle for the entire family. But the fact is that children, working or playing on the farm are at risk. Salzwedel says the number of injuries, many fatal to children on the farm is surprisingly high.



That’s about 12,000 debilitating injuries per year, plus over 100 deaths on the farm. As an adult, we often overestimate our children’s abilities so it’s a good idea to think back to the time we were very young and the times we did some pretty dumb things….and you know we all did. By the way, the number one cause of death and injury to children involves being around, or riding on tractors.