Agricultural fatalities in young children

Farm and ranch work sites present lethal hazards to young children. According to data from the Canadian Agricultural Injury Surveillance Program (CAISP), from 1990 to 2000 there were 109 fatal agricultural injuries to children aged 1-6 years in Canada. Over 84% of the children were related to the farm owner/operators. 79% of those killed were boys. Of the 109 deaths nationally, 23 occurred in Alberta. Possible prevention strategies to reduce the number of fatal and hospitalized injuries to children on our farms and ranches include:; Keeping young children from entering the farm or ranch work site.; Making affordable childcare alternatives available to farm and ranch families.; Using a "no extra riders" rule on tractors and other farm machinery.; Providing fenced-in play areas with high-mounted, self-locking, gate closures for young children.