Display booths lined the walls of the Alma Community Centre during the Wellington County Farm and Home Safety Day and pancake breakfast. The Wellington County Farm and Home Safety Association sponsored the one-day event on Feb. 28.
The day focused on safety issues surrounding children. They received a passport to be checked off at each booth. After filling the passport, each child received a goody bag containing information on farm and home safety. A ballot for door prizes was filled out by all children in attendance.
Hazard Hamlet, sponsored by North Waterloo Hydro, was one of the most popular booths. Larry Mullin, of North Waterloo Hydro, explained different aspects of farm and home safety.
Audience participation was key to his success during the day. Hazard Hamlet contained scenes including kite flying, tree trimming, cat rescue, proper use of toasters and many more farm and home electrical hazards. With the flick of a switch, Mullin’s electrical conductor, shone brightly in each hazardous scene.
Mullin also talked about different types of wire and cable, their voltage capacity and where each type could be found. Rubber gloves worn by hydro workers were available to try on. The thinnest gloves could withstand 10,000 volts of electrical power. The medium glove 17,000 volts and the thickest glove, 36,000.
Mullin talked about the dangers of entering a hydro transformer station. The theft of copper wire each year, which results in the electrocution deaths of some criminals, is a large problem.
Centre Wellington councillor and Wellington County Farm Safety Association member Steve Kitras demonstrated machine guarding safety. Kitras placed three toy children in a toy gravity wagon filled with materials and opened the chute on the wagon. The toys were instantly buried and suffocated. He reminded children never to go into a wagon, and of the safety concerns working around loaded wagons.
Arnie Van Ankum, Farm and Home Safety Association member, showed children and adults, the dangers of power take-off shafts. Within seconds a piece of material was drawn into and wrapped around the shaft. Van Ankum asked visitors to think about the consequences of an arm or leg being trapped. He went on to talk about farm equipment safety.
Videos on horse and buggy safety on highways were aired during the day. Emergency preparedness kits were available for viewing. St. John Ambulance demonstrated baby, child and adult CPR and the use of defibrillators. The confined space rescue booth attracted interested participants.
Chemical safety awareness and CrimeStoppers groups also set up displays.
Due to the extreme cold, outside demonstrations of snowmobile and snowblower safety were cancelled. OPP officers and snowblower safety instructors were available for question and answer periods.
A free pancake breakfast with local maple syrup was served. Farm and Home Safety Association members were kept busy flipping pancakes, serving coffee and clearing tables.
Past president Laura Ferrier, said, “ We had a very successful day. Our Farm and Home Safety Association wanted to connect with children, individuals and families that we normally wouldn’t. Hopefully, the generation being taught about farm and home safety today will be future leaders in the industry.”
