Students learn life safety lessons at Progressive Agriculture Safety Days

Progressive Agriculture Safety Days® are a one-day educational event aimed to teach children responsibility when it comes to safety. With the combined efforts of a number of community organizations and businesses, including Bunge Milling, Piatt County Farm Bureau, Gibson City Area Hospital and many others, Safety Days allow community leaders to teach safety concerns and emergency responses, while catering to community needs. Local farmers, manufacturers and merchants donate time and equipment to ensure that each event is a fun, interactive and valuable learning experience.

“Our goal is that the participants maintain a healthy respect for farm hazards throughout their lives,” said Amy Rademaker, farm safety specialist at Carle and Safety Day coordinator. “And ultimately, we hope this leads to a decrease in deaths and injuries among rural children.”

Demonstrations at this year’s Safety Days covered hazards associated with chemicals, electricity, methamphetamines, food, firearms, ATVs, grain, fire, farm and lawn equipment, sun, internet and water, with a discussion on healthy living. During presentations, children engaged in activities that emphasized the significance of being responsible for their own safety and equipped them with the ability to share safety tips with family and friends. In Piatt County, fourth grade students were even treated to a special tour of AirLife, Carle’s medical helicopter, while paramedics taught of the importance of wearing your seatbelt.

Rademaker has been coordinating Safety Days at Carle since 2002.