12-24-13 childhood ag injuries

Farm injury rates among children younger than age 10 are on the rise despite a continued overall decline in the rate of childhood agricultural injuries in the U.S.  That according to the 2014 Childhood Agricultural Injuries Fact Sheet compiled by the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety at the Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation.   Scott Neiberger with the National Farm Medicine Center says on average a child dies in an agriculture-related incident every three days, and 38 children are injured each day.  The report shows rates of injury among children ages 10 and younger rose from 6.6 per 1,000 farms In 2009 to 11.3 per 1,000 in 2012.  More than half of these injuries were incurred by non-working children.  In the wake of several high-profile deaths this su8mmer in which children as young as one were riding tractors as passengers when they fell off and were run over, the National Children’s Center is renewing its campaign to Keep Kids Away from Tractors.