Safety: Our Number One Crop

foreign [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] foreign [Music] mountains great forests with deep rich valleys and unlimited Storehouse of Natural Resources here at Farmland Rich abundant farmlands which have earned the envy and respect of all Nations and American farmers those men and women who have through their toil made their land so productive theirs alone is the right to be termed the most modern and successful farmers in all the world truly this is America the mountain but is this Bountiful American Farmland really is calm and peaceful and safe as it sometimes appears [Music] well agriculture unfortunately has about 18 000 accidental fatalities and one million five hundred thousand injuries each year [Music] foreign [Music] these are the records of the national Safety Council these national Safety Council records also reveal that the average yearly Farm lost Through Fire is approximately 90 million dollars [Music] agricultural leaders have looked to urban communities for better methods have seen the many safety devices used by large and small cities to hold down their accident rate they have searched two through factories and Industrial plants to examine the methods used there to assure greater safety from these extensive observations have come many practical suggestions to help develop Farm safety [Music] fully aware of the importance and need for safety on the farm as well as in the city and Factory and equally aware of the close relationship between Agriculture and Industry with their interdependent and mutual interests General Motors again invites participation in the National 4-H Farm safety program this annual Countrywide Awards program is open to about 2 million young members of the numerous 4-H clubs which are so much a part of Rural America thousands always try for the many awards and the winners always represent every section of the country this is Charles colegrove one of the past Award winners his home is in the Great Northwest near Junction City Oregon the southern states too claimed one of the national scholarship winners Miss Hazel Gentry of Greensboro Georgia [Music] from way down east in Tiverton Rhode Island James gravens proved that he could so successfully apply safety measures on his farm that he was awarded one of the many trips to the National 4-H Club Congress in Chicago foreign New Mexico is the home of this young lady who also earned a 4-H safety award [Music] another winner whose Hometown Bears the name Junction City but this time in the heart of the Midwest in Kansas is Norman mans he too was a winner who earned a grand trip to the 4-H Congress [Music] Miss Alberta stalnayer of Mill Creek West Virginia was additional proof that it was not boys alone who achieved all the safety awards and from the motorcade Michigan filer City Michigan came another of the industrious 4-H winners he is John Miller Jr yeah this great need for additional Farm safety has long been a foremost Endeavor of all the many 4-H leaders here Mr Milo Downey Maryland state Boys Club agent attends one of his State's local 4-H meetings to further the cause of safety on the farm hello boys and girls I'm glad to be able to attend the 4-H club meeting today and discuss what we all agree to be the most important thing in our lives thank you farm and home safe the things that you do to make your Farm and Home a safer place to live and to create an interest in your fellow club members and in your family anything we do whether it be great or small in the interest of safety may help some person eliminate an accident in the future you may Wonder just what you can do for greater Farms safety we have listed on the board under eight headings some of the many possibilities where you may apply safety measures they are machinery and equipment buildings in the farmyard five animals electricity hand tools sanitation and health and the farm home this list will certainly help you recall something at home on which you can start working right away and thereby eliminate some accident to yourself some member your family or to your neighbors we hope you and your fellow club members will all enter the national safety conference and remember always practice safety in whatever you do 4-H leaders too strive to promote safety in all its phases on the farm in an effort to show the young people how they can make the farm a safer place to work and play these 4-H club members under the guidance of their County Extension agent Frank Gray have called an outdoor safety meeting [Music] one of their first lessons is how to handle a pitchfork in the right Safe Way [Music] they learn the driveways into the farm can be made safer if they're well marked for night driving members of the group take a hand in making this driveway safer [Music] as their meeting continues these four-hers learn the importance of a well-protected cistern cover [Music] no chance for children grown-ups or even animals to fall into this system [Music] the extension agent also explains the need of taking proper care of the family car as well as all farm vehicles he not only explains but shows the young people the parts of the car which require attention [Music] [Applause] [Music] another precaution pointed out is the need to keep away from moving farm equipment as an example I see the corn shell are in operation [Music] foreign [Music] is particularly unsafe because it does not have any protection at the top of the ladder then they see a far safer silo this one has a platform to stand on and a protecting ring to give greater safety [Music] this enterprising 4-H club member Samuel Wilson realized the hazard of lifting heavy milk cans so that his Dairy would be a safer place to work he made this milk can lifter himself [Music] the importance of orderly arrangement around the farm and farm buildings is explained to the group Mr Gray describes the approved type of electric switch boxes and the need for locating them in a safe place he tells them about the care of tools and that whenever a high-speed electric rhinestone is used it should be properly guarded and that safety goggles should always be worn [Music] a handy fire extinguisher is an all-important safety measure [Music] the need for lightning rods to protect farm buildings is described to the group they learn that if their Farm is in an area where electrical storms occur good lightning rod installations will prevent a serious fire however the conductors must be carefully insulated clear of the building and well grounded foreign [Music] 4-H club safety meetings are taking place in all parts of the country today this way the members get first-hand practical knowledge as to how they can further promote safety watching the man putting hay in the barn they learn to keep all of the path of the tractor they learn too about the dangers of the pulling rope their leader reminds them to always stay a good distance away from it and to see that children are out of its path everything is in the clear no 4-H safety meeting would be complete without discussing the precautions which must always be taken when using the tractor power takeoff the group learned that all tractors have protecting covers for this shaft end and they must be used a newer model to improved Shields cannot be removed entirely they can be open for inspection or adjustments but the operator cannot leave them all be sure you always use the power takeoff's protecting cover [Music] around the farm home there are a number of things which 4-H members can do to make the home itself a safer Place putting rubber stops on a kitchen stool to prevent it from slipping is just one of many safety measures which can be performed [Music] another is to put the various poisons used around the farm up and Out Of Reach of any small children the same practice applies to household poisons too they should be carefully marked and placed well out of Harm's Way [Music] [Applause] [Music] another Hazard around the home could be a rickety stepladder chair a worthwhile Safety project can be that of making it sturdy and safe all right [Music] small rugs can be made safer too handy rubber rings sewn on the bottom will help prevent slipping thereby reduce the chances of someone falling guns stored around the house should always be inspected to be certain they are unloaded and then placed in a safe place and locked there well away from inexperienced hands [Music] many an accident is caused by a person not being able to see the steps at night painting the risers white will help prevent such injuries one of the most important lessons to be learned is the care and handling of farm tools pitchforks in particular should always be stored in a safe secure place and the ax a real Safety project is seeing to it that the head is firmly secured to the handle look [Music] someone tripping and falling every tool on the farm should be picked up and placed where it belongs 4-H learned too that household appliances to be saved must be kept free of broken wires or plugs even toys can be dangerous if they're left for someone to fall over [Music] here's a young fellow who knows the importance of traffic safety be sure his farm is as safe as possible he is erecting a simple stop sign where the Farm Road meets the highway [Music] thank you a simple kind but Mighty important [Music] a sign such as this will be helpful to the bus driver we'll let other motorists know it is there and we'll make it safer when you and your friends are going to and from school [Music] thank you one of the recent 4-H safety winners is a young man from the state of Maryland he is Malcolm Heats and his family's Farm is located near the village of Street Maryland this carefully prepared report book describes exactly what Malcolm did to earn his recognition he had other projects too but realizing the importance of safety he concentrated on it [Music] one of his first safety activities was putting up a no smoking sign in the barn he also recognized that the hay shoot in the barn was a hazard so he erected a protective bar [Music] Malcolm's home is a dairy and fruit farm he realized there is a definite Hazard for moving Machinery so he built a protective shield over the motor of the Apple polishing machine [Music] the first aid kit was another safety item which received Malcolm's regular attention he made sure it was always handy and filled with necessary supplies Farm Motor Vehicles didn't Escape his efforts either seeing that the truck needed a new windshield wiper blade made it his business to see that it had one oh once the great need for safety was brought directly home to Malcolm the next thing he did was to improve that situation [Music] keeping the ladders safely in repair was one of his jobs no telling how many men didn't fall because of his safety efforts a piece of farm equipment Malcolm knew could be a hazard was the farm windmill he made it his business to see that the windmill break was always in perfect working order [Music] he knew sealed beam headlights make for safer night driving another of his safety measures was replacing the old headlights with new brighter ones [Music] this sprayer now has a guard rail as a result of Malcolm's good work profession too where now the man's brain can do a better job [Music] a pet safety job was farm equipment truck Stakes flatbed needed repair Malcolm repaired them immediately another safety precaution Malcolm made sure of was the handling of gasoline his underground tank provided the safest place to keep this type of fuel keeping chains in the car was another of his safety projects just as safety-minded as Malcolm Heats remember there are scholarships silver medals and trips to the National 4-H Congress for the 4-H boys and girls who do the most to prevent accidents local leaders and County Extension agents have all the necessary information for those of you who take part in the national Safety program remember whether you win an award or not you will still be a winner all those who practice and apply safety in everything they do and every way they know how cannot lose for safety in itself is its own reward we all have a great heritage perhaps the greatest in all the world are lushcroft's abundant granaries the Bountiful field the heavy laden Orchards the fat grazing cattle all prove this fact over and over again yet of all the crops which are ours we should be ever mindful to make safety our number one problem good foreign foreign