NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665
January 20, 2000
A complete first aid kit can literally be a lifesaver on the farm, says a North Dakota State University agricultural safety specialist.
"Kits should be stored where they're needed and well-stocked with fresh, clean supplies," says George Maher of the NDSU Extension Service. There should be a first aid kit in each farm building including machine sheds, livestock buildings and the farm shop and on each self-propelled machine such as combines, tractors and trucks.
"The quality of treatment that a victim receives immediately following an accident will have a major influence on the recovery process," Maher says. "In some cases, immediate treatment is the key to survival."
Quality first aid kits are available at drug stores, hardware stores and through mail-order companies, local emergency rescue services and safety equipment stores. "You can also assemble a first aid kit at home that allows you to tailor it to your needs," Maher says. (A suggested list of contents accompanies this article.)
The first aid kit should be carefully packed in a large fishing tackle box or other waterproof container. The kit should be marked for easy identification with a large white cross on all sides. The family name and 911 address should be on it, and it should include phone numbers for the local doctor, ambulance service and hospital.
Maher notes that some items in first aid kits can lose their effectiveness with age. Kits can be lost and misplaced or items can be removed. "Now is a perfect time to make sure first aid kits are where the should be and that their contents are complete and in good condition. There's nothing worse than a first aid kit that doesn't have what you need when you need it."
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Source: George Maher (701) 231-8288
Editor: Tom Jirik (701) 231-9629
Click here for a pdf version of this graphic. (6KB b&w list of items for a farm first aid kit)