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NRMA Grant Helps Keep Kids On Farms Safe


NRMA Grant Helps Keep Kids On Farms Safe

Author: NRMA Motoring & ServicesDate: 08 April 2009

The Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety on behalf of Farmsafe NSW will use a $5,000 NRMA Safer Driving School Community Safety Grant for a program to increase child safety on farms in regional NSW.

NRMA Director Graham Blight will meet with Farmsafe Executive Officer John Temperley and Centre Director Lyn Fragar today at 11:00am at the Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety, 5 Greenbah Rd, Moree, to present the grant and discuss the Seatbelts Save Lives on Farms Too program.

Mr Blight said the Seatbelts Save Lives on Farms Too program was an important community safety initiative which focussed on increasing vehicle safety on farming properties.

"Each year approximately 20 children under the age of 16 years die on Australian farms as a result of injuries caused by farm vehicles, machinery and motorcycles," Mr Blight said.

"Vehicles and farming machinery cause the majority of child deaths and injuries on farms with lack of seatbelt wearing and use of child restraints a serious cause for concern.

"The perception that seatbelts only need to be worn while driving on public roads is wrong and causing heartbreaking accidents and deaths on farming properties.

"The same safety precautions that you would take while travelling on public roads should also be taken while travelling on farms - this includes helmet wearing for motorbike and trail bike riders and the use of seatbelts and restraints when in cars, utes or trucks.

"With the Easter school holidays upon us families need to take even more care around vehicles on farms and the Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety is to be thanked for this important safety initiative.

"There is nothing worse than losing a child and farming communities and families visiting farms during the holidays need to heed to all safety advice."

Farmsafe Executive Officer John Temperley said the NRMA grant would be used to develop a brochure highlighting the risks associated with travel in farm utilities and cars and the need for all drivers to be restrained by seatbelts while travelling on the farm.

"Our safety brochure will be distributed throughout NSW at farm field days and in Emergency Departments in rural hospitals and we thank the NRMA for their support," Mr Temperley said.

For a more comprehensive list of farm safety tips visit www.mynrma.com.au and view the NRMA's A Parents' Guide To Kidsafe Farms brochure.

Photo opportunity: NRMA Director Graham Blight will present the community grant today at 11:00am to the Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety, 5 Greenbah Rd, Moree. The Hon. David Brownhill, Chairman/ Patron Child Safety on Farms and Mr Kevin Humphries, MP, Member for Barwon will be present.

Contact Kimberly Rigby 0439 133 215

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