7 Tips for Keeping Children Safe on the Farm or Ranch

With open space to run, animals to see and buildings to explore, what’s not to love about spending time on the farm or ranch? While a farm or ranch can be a great place for kids to make memories, it’s important to make farm safety for children the priority for any outing.

A farm safety checklist for families can help make sure that children are protected as they play. Implementing the right rules can help teach them how to safely build skills they’ll use for years to come. 

So, before your children step out the door and into adventure, keep these tips in mind.

If you’d like to talk to an agent about how to protect your ag operation and your family, reach out to Farm Bureau to talk about your options.

Tip #1: Use Online Educational Safety Resources

Kids love to learn and teaching them about safe practices while they’re on the farm or ranch passes along vital skills and knowledge. It can be fun, too!

Online resources are available to help talk with kids about an array of safe practices like tractor, animal, grain and ATV safety. 

Tip #2: Store Chemicals Out of Reach

Chemicals can be a big safety risk for children. Pesticides and other chemicals might be used throughout the year for your crops, and it may be convenient to keep them in easy-to-reach places. However, keeping chemicals and other hazardous materials out of sight and, if possible, locked in storage can easily stop accidents from happening. It’s important to teach them at a young age to never ingest anything they don’t have permission to eat or drink and to talk with them about not opening containers or playing around chemicals. 

Tip #3: Set Boundaries Within Your Farm or Ranch

While you probably keep watch over your younger kids, older children might have more freedom to roam the land. Don’t forget that not every part of your property is likely suitable for play.

While you may have acres and woods for exploring, discuss where it’s okay to roam and what areas are off limits (or out of bounds). Grain bins, silos, ponds and rivers may present more safety risks on your farm or ranch.

Tip #4: Identify and Discuss Possible Safety Hazards

If you have livestock, you know that keeping them on your property is important. But that may mean you use barbed wire or electric fencing, which can be dangerous to young people who don’t understand their danger. If you have barbed wire or electric fencing on your farm or ranch, be sure to talk with your kids about staying away so they don’t inadvertently get hurt.

To a kid, grain bins and grain carts may also look like fun places to play. But if they’re full of grain, they can quickly become hazardous. Grain can act like quicksand, and entrapments can happen quickly. Don’t let kids play in or around grain bins or carts. Be sure to talk with children about the dangers of playing in grain bins and on carts.

Also, make sure to store tools and ladders securely and out of sight to prevent injuries on the farm. Even common tools like rakes and shovels can be dangerous if they aren’t kept in a safe place.

Tip #5: Talk About Safe Farm Machinery Practices

There’s probably nothing more exciting to a kid than getting to ride in a tractor or a combine. These large pieces of farm machinery are impressive to people of all ages — especially kids. But they can quickly become farm hazards.

Be sure to lock equipment like tractors, trucks, combines, and so on when they aren’t in use. Keep the keys in a safe place that’s out of reach from small hands.

You should also teach kids to stay back when large farm equipment is in operation. Teach them to make eye contact with the driver to be sure they aren’t in blind spots.

Tip #6: Teach Farm Emergency Preparedness

Emergency preparedness in the event of extreme weather or a disaster is vitally important to keeping children safe. From discussing farm emergency plans for tornadoes, fires, earthquakes and so on to showing how to use fire extinguishers, emergency preparedness is a topic that can be taught to all ages.

Tip #7: Handle Animals Safely

Livestock can be unpredictable! Kids love animals but be sure to always supervise young children when they’re around livestock. Teach them how to safely interact with livestock and how to keep a safe distance, too.

Encourage Safety for All Ages

Promoting farm and ranch safety habits is important for everyone’s well-being. Talk regularly with your children about safe practices on your farm or ranch. A local Farm Bureau agent can help to ensure your operation has the protection it needs. Reach out today.