Keep children safe on farms

Helen O’Callaghan says the dangers on farms can be underestimated.

With summer approaching, we’ll see more children outdoors on farms, whether farm-dwelling or visiting children. For the latter especially — and their parents — a farm is exciting, a place of discovery. But sometimes dangers are underestimated.

In the past 10 years, there were 22 fatal accidents involving children on Irish farms. Thirty-six per cent were killed by tractors; 32% by other farm machinery.