Life happens. On the homestead, the farm, or the suburbs, life happens. Breathtaking experiences that change the ebb and flow of our daily lives can catch us off guard and redirect the course of our journey.
A year ago, I had a farm accident: I fell. I was in a hurry. I was cooking breakfast for Jim, but I wanted to check on a hen that I had in an isolation cage. So I turned down the cast iron skillet filled with sizzling bacon and scurried out to the barn to cram one more chore into my morning. I was rushing out the barn door with the hen tucked under one arm and a waterer in the other when my sandal caught the lip of the door sill, and I fell head first onto the concrete.
The chicken went flying, the waterer spilled, and suddenly I was a bloody mess. I knew I needed help to get up, so I started to drag myself towards the road. Cars whooshed by me, and no one saw me as I tried to get their attention. I kept crawling. Finally, two trucks doubled back. The well-built farmers were extremely kind as they hauled me to my feet. They were persistent about calling an ambulance. I finally had to put my hands on my hips and tell them I was a tough old German and I would be fine. I am forever grateful that they stopped.
That was last October, and unfortunately, my recovery has been slow. In all my married life, I never had to rest and take time to allow my body to heal. It was only bearable due to the constant affection and gentle kindness of my husband, Jim, the big lug!
Let’s turn my “light and momentary affliction” into something positive by discussing how you can prevent accidents on the urban and rural homestead.
1: Safety gear: Haste makes waste is a reality. Haste is often unnecessary and causes accidents that can result in costly mistakes. The carpenter’s adage of measure twice, cut once is a truism based on many discarded boards. Along that same vein is tool time. Wear the protective gear even if you don’t think you have the time to mess with it. Do it anyway. Slow down and concentrate on the task at hand.
2: Handholds: Jim installed handholds at all the doors to help me steady myself when I am carrying a load into the barn or house. I found some attractive ones at my local Buchheit.
3: Advanced planning: At the new homestead, Jim and I are remodeling my ancestral home, we have poured a new concrete driveway. It has a gentle slope that will allow me to walk into my house without steep steps. Planning like this may afford an elderly farmer, or their family added years at the home-place just by letting them ease of access. Buchheit carries everything you need for a successful concrete pour.
4: Light: If you can see where you are going, you are less likely to fall over the dog when you are exhausted coming out of the field. I know these suggestions are not rocket science, but just a reminder to use common sense. Motion activated lights are energy efficient and practical around many types of buildings.
The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) discovered that every day, about 100 agricultural workers suffer a lost-work-time injury. In 2016, 417 farmers and farm workers died from a work-related injury, resulting in a fatality rate of 21.4 deaths per 100,000 workers. The fatality rate in agriculture is far higher than any other economic sector, and the level of farm accidents are not decreasing. What seemed at the time to be just a fall turned into months of disability. I became a statistic.
Please set yourself up for success by examining your home and farm for potential dangers. Buchheit carries a complete line of products to help make your homestead safe. Take advantage of these resources for your safety and to help prevent accidents like mine.
Be blessed and happy! Ann May
