Another child injured

[orezok]

From the Fresno Bee (California). Why do adults who know better allow this to happen?

FresnoBee.com: Local: Boy, 10, critically hurt when he falls off tractor at a Strathmore farm

 

[Rara Avis]

Because familiarity breeds contempt...

Which is why there are constant repetition of safety training documents like the one below...

When Two's a Crowd: Dangers of Extra Riders on Tractors

 

[Farmwithjunk]

There's not a farmer in this world that didn't start his or her tractor driving carreer of by riding with dad to learn how to run one. I did, my kids did, my grandson is learning now. But there's a "safer" way. (NO way is totally without risk) I learned with ME sitting in the seat and dad as the rider. He put himself at risk and not his young child. There was a great deal of instruction before the tractor ever moved. Once we started moving, speeds were kept to an absolute minimum, operating on flat, clear ground. As soon as I was ready, dad dismounted and I was "flying solo". We were never allowed to simply "haul passengers" on the tractor itself.

And in no event was there a manure spreader, bush hog, plow,disc, or ANY implement hooked to the tractor while learning, muchless in operation. I was in my middle teens, and very used to operating a tractor SAFELY before I was allowed to operate certain equipment. (Balers, mowers, cornpicker, ect)

Some people are simply an accident looking for someplace to happen.

 

[N80]

I have an aquaintance who is a full time farmer. When he his moving hay, his daughter, from the time she was about 8 or 10, rode on the tractor with him. She would hop down and unhook the hay wagons and he loaded them up with the FEL. Then she'd hook the wagons back on, climb back on the tractor and off they'd go to repeat the whole process as he unloaded the bales.

I'm sure this is against every safety rule, but its life on the farm. They've never had a tractor related accident. Doesn't mean they can't or won't. But they are quite careful to avoid them.

 

[keeney]

Even a small riding lawn mower can be dangerous for a riding child. Even when the mower deck is not spinning, there are plenty of ways for kids to get hurt. Getting run over by a 500 lb machine might not be fatal, but there are plenty of stories of broken bones when a child slides off and gets their foot or leg run over.

- Rick

 

[john_bud]

Safer on the tractor with me than at the mall with friends.

 

[tinkertoys]

I agree with Paul in VT. OOH it will never happen to me I'm too careful.. All it takes is to look away or one little bump.

 

[charlz]

I grew up riding the drawbar on my friends family farm tractors. The only rule we had was no one was allowed between an implement and the tractor when backing up to hook up. Like anything else there is a certain amount of risk and you either accept the risk or don't do the activity.

 

[orezok]

I grew up riding the drawbar on my friends family farm tractors. The only rule we had was no one was allowed between an implement and the tractor when backing up to hook up. Like anything else there is a certain amount of risk and you either accept the risk or don't do the activity.

I understand what you are saying, but kids don't fully understand the risks involved as adults should.

It's like playing Russian Roulette. It didn't go off the first 5 times so I guess it's OK to do it again.

I don't let my kids play Russian Roulette.

 

[patrick_g]

Every time there is a safety issue raised people line up to tell all about how yhey have done such and such and NEVER had a problem. Everyone gets away with every thing until they don't!!!

It seems to be a point of pride to be able to relate the most dangerous activities performed without a problem (so far.)

Then, after a child is injured, maimed or killed the adult participants often try to justify the action, sometimes by claiming they did it for a long time before anything went wrong. Russian roulette is not safe just because you may be using a thousand shot revolver with only one loaded chamber. You may often walk across the street without looking both ways but if you stay with it you are likely to get that run down feeling.

Driving a Prius in parking lots I have to be ever on my toes to avoid running over folks who don't look for traffic before they step in front of you. When in electric only mode at slow speed it is very quiet and people who are too lazy to look have learned to listen for traffic as a short cut. Doesn't work with a quiet car.

Some things are just not safe. Doing them and not getting injured (yet) should not be a point of pride.

Gee, I put it to my head and pulled the trigger and I didn't get hurt. All those hand wringers are too worried to get anything done. We gotta do what we gotta do to get stuff done, risk is unavoidable.

I hope these sort of comments are not forgotten when material is needed for a child's eulogy.

Pat