Local kids learn about farm safety in first-of-its-kind program

Miriam Ostermann
Times Associate Editor

 

Hundreds of students in the Strathmore and surrounding areas participated in a rare hands-on learning opportunity that aimed to educate the youth on safety practices in rural Alberta last week.
More than 330 Grade 6-9 students from Crowther Memorial Junior High School, Carseland School, Westmount Elementary School, Brentwood Elementary School, and Rosebud River School, joined approximately 500 students from across southern and central Alberta on May 26, for AltaLink’s Farm Safety Day – a program not offered previously.
“I don’t have all rural kids, but they do go visit friends and it was a nice engaging way to show them safety items without preaching to them,” said Brentwood Elementary Grade 6B Teacher Amy White, who said 60 kids from both Grade 6 classes attended the event at the Stampede Park.
“We know rural areas and farms tend to give kids a little bit more responsibility at a younger age so they’re around those materials. For us, we are starting to see the independence come out in our kids at that age and they’re making those decisions alone, perhaps without supervision all the time, so if they’re doing that without the education behind it, it could be really scary.”
Alberta’s largest regulated electricity transmission company, AltaLink, launched their first annual program last week in partnership with the Calgary Stampede and Ag for Life, in concert with a rising number of accidents in the province and discussions raised around topics of safety habits.
Therefore, the event addressed key topics including chemical handling, electrical utility safety, grain safety and confined spaces, large equipment and vehicles safety, and animal behaviour.
According to White, her students were most impacted by a dummy demonstration and simulation regarding seatbelt safety. Students also observed the effects of an auger on newspaper dummies, and were asked to walk a straight line while wearing impairment glasses.
“I grew up in an agricultural community and have seen the incredible work ethic and can-do spirit rural Albertans bring to the work they do day in and day out,” said Scott Thon, president and CEO of AltaLink.
“I am also aware of the complex nature of our agricultural operations and the dangers associated with it. That’s why AltaLink, in conjunction with the Calgary Stampede hosted Farm Safety Day – to provide education and awareness to our youth on how to work safety and prevent injuries.”
Farm Safety Day furthermore featured presentations by various speakers, a rollover simulator, and a demonstration on what happens when clothing snags on farm machinery – in this case a power take-off shaft.
Students from Trochu, Crossfield, Okotoks, Cochrane, and Arrowwood were also present during the day.