OMAHA, NEB. (RFD NEWS) — Farming comes with many unexpected risks and hazards, making preparedness an important part of protecting farm families, employees, and livestock.
In honor of National Preparedness Month this September, Dr. Jeffrey Gold, president of the University of Nebraska, joined us on Wednesday’s Market Day Report for Rural Health Matters to discuss ways farmers and ranchers can prepare for unexpected emergencies during Rural Health Matters.
What Does Safety ‘Preparedness’ Mean?
In his conversation with RFD News, Dr. Gold explained that preparedness involves spotting potential problems and taking steps to mitigate them before they happen.
Farmers and ranchers already spend much of their time planning for weather, livestock, crop production, soil conditions, and pests. Gold said that same type of planning should also extend to emergencies.
These situations can include severe weather, flooding, winter whiteout conditions, structure fires or wildfires, power outages, health emergencies, and accidental injuries such as slips and falls.
Gold encouraged farmers, ranchers, families, and farm staff to mentally walk through different emergency scenarios: “If there is a flood, or if there is a whiteout, or if there is a fire, exactly, what are we going to do?”
He said families and employees should know who to call, who is responsible for life safety, and who will protect children, pets, and livestock.
Preparing for Farm and Home Injuries
Gold said preparedness should also include smaller emergencies, including injuries that can happen around the farm or home. First aid kits should be easily accessible, and people should know what is inside and make sure supplies are current.
He specifically mentioned keeping track of EpiPens for people with severe allergies as an example of medication to check regularly. He also recommended checking emergency medications and making sure they have not expired.
Gold also encouraged farmers to keep important phone numbers readily available, including 911, local health care professionals, and family members. Those numbers should be stored in cell phones and also kept in locations such as the refrigerator or other easily accessible areas.
“Sometimes minutes, even seconds, can make a life-and-death decision better,” Gold said.
Practice Safety Protocol Before an Emergency Happens
Gold compared emergency preparation to tabletop exercises used in health care, where people walk through potential scenarios and determine how they will respond.
He said similar exercises can help agricultural operations.
Farm families and employees can discuss what would happen during a power outage, severe winter weather, flooding, or a fire and determine where everyone should go and who is responsible for different tasks.
Gold said having a designated location for emergency supplies and making sure everyone knows where it is can also help reduce confusion during an emergency.
The goal, he said, is to think through potential emergencies before they happen so farm families and employees are better prepared to respond.
Viewers with questions for Dr. Gold can reach him by email at [email protected]
