AgriKids, along with Embrace FARM, have collaborated with An Garda Síochána for a special farm safety campaign.
Children all across Ireland are been asked to design a farm safety poster on any agri topic they choose and to email their entry to – [email protected]
As well as the competition, daily activities have been shared across AgriKids’ social media platforms, which included video tips from Ireland’s farm family community, reminding everyone on what they can do to keep #FarmSafe while #HomeSafe.
AgriKids founder, Alma Jordan, expressed how important it is for the various organisations to work collectively. “We all want the same outcome; greater awareness, better practices, an improved culture and fewer accidents.”
“It makes sense we all work together to achieve this common goal. As children remain at home due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the issue of combining home-schooling, remote working and maintaining a working farm is exceptionally difficult.”
“Hopefully, these activities and reminders will help our farm families to remain vigilant and create conversations on the topic of farm safety.”
Practicing farm safety
Sergeant Edel Burke, from Kilrush Garda station, featured in the videos along with her children, showing that farm safety is already something her young family actively practice.
“Kilrush gardai are delighted to work with AgriKids and Embrace FARM as we aim to highlight farm safety for children now that they are off school,” explained Edel.
“We had children from Tipperary, Meath, Clare and Offaly share their tips on how they stay safe and we thank them for passing on their advice and encourage other children and adults to listen and think ‘safety first’.”
One of the prizes up for grabs is a trip to meet the Garda horses of the Mounted Unit at Garda HQ in the Phoenix Park. “Thank you to Sgt. Brendan Duffy of the Garda Mounted Unit for arranging the visit’, continued Edel.
Children account for over 10% of farm fatalities
Catherine Collins from Embrace FARM echoed the importance of the initiative in getting the farm safety message home to farming communities.
“With children off school since March and not returning for the foreseeable future, parents have the added pressure to keep their children safe around the clock whilst carrying out work on the farms of Ireland on what is the busiest time of the year.”
“Over 10% of farm accident fatalities in Ireland are children. We encourage children to submit their ideas for farm safety around their own farms both to keep themselves safe and what their parents or grandparents can do to keep safe whilst at work.”
Support network
Founded by Norma and Brian Rohan, Embrace FARM has become a leading light in support and comfort to many families coping in the aftermath of a farm accident.
It hosts its annual remembrance service to memorialise all lives lost in farm accidents across Ireland every June. It supports farm families through grief by hosting its annual residential counselling weekends for families that have lost a child, sibling or parent in a farm accident.
The charity offers peer-to-peer support for survivors of farm accidents who have suffered life-changing injuries during their trauma of the event.
“We really reach out to families to look after one another during this time and keep kids informed and interactive around the farms through competitions like this,” Catherine concluded.
Competition details:
- Think of a great idea for a farm safety themed poster;
- Draw, paint, collage or sketch your poster on an A4 sheet;
- ake a picture & email your entry to – [email protected]
- Entries accepted until 23.59, May 13th, 2020;
- Top entries will be put into a draw;
- Winners announced on May 14th.
Prize listing:
- Trip to visit the horses in the Garda Mounted Unit, Phoenix Park, Dublin;
- Massey Ferguson prize pack sponsored by An Garda Siochana, Kilrush, Co Clare;
- AgriKids farm safe prize pack;
- AgriKids farm safe storybook set;
- AgriKids farm safe activity kit.
Information
You can find out more on Embrace Farm at – www.embracefarm.com – or find out about Agrikids here.
