Prevention of Agricultural Injuries Among Children and Adolescents

• Published in: Pediatrics (Evanston) Vol. 108; no. 4; pp. 1016 - 1019
• Main Authors: Bull, Marilyn J, Agran, Phyllis, Gardner, H Garrry, Laraque, Danielle
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elk Grove Village, IL Am Acad Pediatrics 01-10-2001; American Academy of Pediatrics
• Subjects: Accident prevention; Accidents; Adolescent; Agricultural laborers; Agriculture - statistics & numerical data; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; Children; Children & youth; Farming; Farms; Health Education; Humans; Infant; Injuries; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Patient Education as Topic; Pediatric injuries; Pediatrics; Rural Health - statistics & numerical data; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents; United States - epidemiology; Wounds and Injuries - epidemiology; Wounds and Injuries - mortality; Wounds and Injuries - prevention & control; United States; Human; Prevention; Prevalence; Mortality; Adolescent; Rural area; Agriculture; Child; Trauma; Morbidity; Recommendation
• ISSN: 0031-4005; 1098-4275
• DOI: 10.1542/peds.108.4.1016

Although the annual number of farm deaths to children and adolescents has decreased since publication of the 1988 American Academy of Pediatrics statement, "Rural Injuries," the rate of nonfatal farm injuries has increased. Approximately 100 unintentional injury deaths occur annually to children and adolescents on US farms, and an additional 22 000 injuries to children younger than 20 years occur on farms. Relatively few adolescents are employed on farms compared with other types of industry, yet the proportion of fatalities in agriculture is higher than that for any other type of adolescent employment. The high mortality and severe morbidity associated with farm injuries require continuing and improved injury-control strategies. This statement provides recommendations for pediatricians regarding patient and community education as well as public advocacy related to agricultural injury prevention in childhood and adolescence.