Every year farm children are injured or die in farm accidents that could have been prevented.
This year Rick and Doreen Shantz are hosting the Waterloo Rural Women’s 20th Annual Children’s Farm Safety Day on June 13 at their Mapleton Township dairy farm. The organization’s goal is to bring an awareness of farm safety to children from the area.
Children will visit eight stations set up around the farm. Large animals, farm equipment, PTO, lawnmower, electrical and fire safety will be featured. Floradale firefighters will be on hand teaching children aged 7 to 12 how to use a fire extinguisher. The Mapleton Fire Department is supplying a fire house for the event. How to make an emergency call to 911, safety games, relays and the opportunity to wear a firefighter’s outfit will also be part of the day.
“We host this day during the one of the busy seasons on the farm in hopes that the children will pass on what they have learned to other family members,” stated Waterloo Rural Women member Sharon Grose. “We only hear about the fatalities on the farm and not the near misses. It’s so important to have these days, as farm families live where they work.”
To pre-register children before June 10, contact Laurie Weber at 519-664-2327. Cost for the day is $5 per child. A peanut-free pizza lunch with ice cream donated by Chapmans will be provided. Each participant will be given a take-home goodie bag containing reflective bands.
The event runs rain or shine. Each child is asked to dress appropriately, including a hat and closed-toe shoes. Volunteers are needed to man each station. High school students needing community hours and any parents planning to stay for the day are welcome to volunteer.
