Iowa AgrAbility

Agrability Chit-Chat, Newsletter
Vol. 3, No. 5 -- May 2001

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IN THIS EDITION:
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CONTENTS: SAFETY FOR OLDER FARMERS

The theme this month is safety for older farmers. This seems like such a timely topic. As it gets harder and harder for farm people to make a decent living on the farm, it seems to me that our farm population gets older and older. Because it is hard to sell the farm, we continue to farm. But often it is our love for the land as well as our work ethic that encourages us to stay. We have struggled to make it this far and are not willing to give up. When you add to this the fact that as we age, our hearing usually gets worse, arthritis is more of a problem, our reflexes aren't as good as they used to be, we don't see as well as we once did and we tire more easily, farming safely becomes an issue. Farming is even harder for those of us who have a disability caused by a heart attack, stroke, or loss of a limb.

So, a big pat on the back for we older farmers who deal with all of these challenges in our golden years. (CS)

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YOU JUST CAN'T BE TOO CAREFUL! Lorrie Long

This is John Herman's 55th year on the farm his dad bought near LaPorte City shortly after John graduated from high school. John married in 1942, spent two years in the Army during WWII --receiving the Combat Infantry badge and a bronze star-- and operated a trucking business. Then one day in 1950, John was given 60 days to take care of his business and report for military duty --the Korean War. He sold everything. The night before he was to leave he learned that anyone with four or more dependents could get a discharge. John drove 100 miles to Des Moines and managed to get his orders canceled. What to do now? John's dad was delighted to turn the family farm over to his son. In the midst of many happy times on the farm with his wife Charlene, three sons and two daughters, John has met both ordinary and extraordinary challenges.

Twelve years ago John lost Charlene to acute Leukemia, four months after she became sick. He went into seclusion for a couple of years but realized that the world was going on without him. He admits, "I still get awfully lonely."

And then about eight months ago John was in the bottom of a grain bin walking behind his sweep auger with shovel in one hand and broom in the other. "I'd run about half a dozen rounds so there was practically nothing left," John explains. "I swept a spot real clean in front of the door so I wouldn't slip when I got out." John pauses and then continues, "The auger hit that cleaned air spot and leaped. It picked up speed and knocked me down! I couldn't get away from it.

"First, it cut my right foot off -I always wore western boots. Next, it tore my pants off up to my belt and cut my leg up bad. I was down on my back. I tried to use the broom with my right hand and broke it twice."

John concedes, "I thought it was the end of my life, but the auger sucked up the rest of my boot which threw the breaker. It was one of those freak deals. Everything happened so fast." John continues, "I crawled out of the bin and managed the four-foot drop to the ground. I hobbled over and turned the switch off to the auger. I tried to get to the house to use the telephone. I finally had to crawl and made it up in front of the house where I leaned against the tree. The little girl next door came out of her house. I hollered at her and she hurried inside and called her mother who called 911."

John's foot was gone and because his leg was so badly mangled, the doctors took it off below the knee. John declares, "The doctors said that because of my age, they didn't think I would make it but I'd worked all of my life and I didn't want to die yet."

John suffers with arthritis in his knee as well as phantom pain. He explains, "With phantom pain, you feel like you have a foot. When I'm sitting in a chair, I think I can get up and walk but there is nothing there to walk with." John is using a temporary prosthesis but will eventually be fitted with a permanent prosthesis. He uses a wheelchair at night and in the morning.

John had never heard of AgrAbility before his accident. He comments, "I heard of Easter Seals before but wasn't particularly interested." John affirms, "AgrAbility has done a lot for me."

For example, with financial assistance from the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, a rural rehabilitation consultant attached handholds and widened the steps on John's loader tractor so he can get both feet on one step at the same time. In addition, the rehabilitation consultant put extensions on the brakes of both the loader tractor and John's big John Deere so that he can operate them by hand. "They're working out real wonderful!" John exclaims. He, also, now has a hitch and adapter that allow him to hook up without getting off his tractor, and he has a grain leveler so that he can see how much grain is in the bin without climbing up the ladder.

John continues with enthusiasm, "Then they bought me a John Deere Gator. I tell you, I couldn't believe how much good I could get out of that! It's easy for me to get in and out of; it saves me so many steps. You just can't believe what you can do with it --I check my fields and pick up rocks. It's been a 'god send." If I had to choose, that would be the one thing I would keep!"

John is pleased to learn that AgrAbility also includes services provided by specialists at ISU Extension. He is especially interested in replacing his tub with a shower, a challenge for Mary Yearns, ISU Housing Specialist.

Carmen Schacht, Peer Support Coordinator for AgrAbility Friends and Family --AgrAbility's support group program, recently matched John with another AgrAbility farmer who has worn a leg prosthesis for 19-20 years. One rainy day when he couldn't do anything on the farm, John visited his match. "I'd give anything to walk like he does," John states.

What about safety on the farm? In his closing comments, John emphasizes, "You can never be too careful. I found that out more than once. One time years ago when we still had power take-off, I had on a loose jacket and almost got caught. Another time I almost got my foot caught in an auger. I've taken too many chances. Like this deal --I should have had somebody else here. I learned a lot from this accident. For example, you can now buy switches that are mounted inside the bin so it is more accessible to turn on and shut off. You just can't be too careful. At my age, your reactions aren't as good as they used to be."

John has the support of Iowa AgrAbility, a partnership between the Easter Seals FaRM Program and ISU Extension. While the FaRM Program specializes in helping farm families with disabilities achieve greater independence through assistive technology and rehabilitation services, ISU Extension provides expertise on a wide range of agricultural, business, and family issues including farm safety, financial management, innovative business ventures, housing expertise, and intergenerational relationships. AgrAbility staff care personally about members of the entire family. The goal of AgrAbility is to help farm families with disabilities stay engaged in life. (LL)

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SAFETY TIPS FOR FARMING (taken from Safety Tips for Farming with Limitations due to Aging, Easter Seals FaRM program: www.extension.iastate.edu/agrability/safety-tips.html)

The following is a list of safety tips shared by farmers who are affected by physical limitations due to the aging process:

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RESOURCES

--Check out the ISU Extension's Agricultural Health and Safety website. It contains farm safety publications as well as information on programs that can be used to promote safety: www.ae.iastate.edu/safety.htm

--Safe Farm promotes agricultural health and safety. Read this article for methods to keep active farmers safe in later life: www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM1841A.pdf

In addition, ISU Extension has a series of publications on farm safety:

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AGRICULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES

A quick check of the ISU Extension calendar of events identifies many interesting activities scheduled for June: Either access this information through your County Extension website:

www.extension.iastate.edu/Counties/state.html

or through the ISU Calendar of Events:

http://dbs.extension.iastate.edu/calendar/

There are several activities geared to youth and children including numerous camps, dog obedience schools, rabbit workshops, tractor safety courses, and bottle-bucket, calf- training workshops. (LL)

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

Beginning July 1 you can dial 711 to access relay services across the United States.

There will be a Farms, Food and Future Conference June 27 at the Polk County Convention Complex in Des Moines to learn more about food and fiber products and how to beef up your bottom line by adding value to Iowa's commodities. For more information: http://www.state.ia.us/agriculture (LL)

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AGRABILITY FRIENDS AND FAMILY EVENTS

• · Make sure your equipment is properly maintained and ready to go before harvest gets underway. Taking the extra time to "fine tune" your equipment before you get in the field will prevent costly, and frustrating, breakdowns during the harvest. Remember, proper maintenance includes making sure all PTO shields and machine guards are in place.
• · Once your equipment is ready, give yourself a check-up as well. Prepare yourself physically and emotionally so that you will be alert while operating harvest equipment.
• · Train all workers. Be sure each operator is familiar with the operators' manual, and understands the appropriate procedures for possible emergency situations. Do not assume "experienced" operators will remember everything from the previous season - a thorough review is appropriate for everyone.
• · Before you begin harvest, check your fields for large rocks, tree stumps, holes, or ditches. If you can't remove obstacles, mark their locations with tall warning flags. Check the edges of ditches carefully for undercut banks.

During harvest

• · Make sure everyone takes short, frequent breaks to avoid becoming fatigued (this is particularly important for older operators). Stretch your arms and legs to increase blood flow, and allow yourself to relax mentally, as well.
• · Avoid operating equipment if you are ill, taking medications, drinking alcoholic beverages, or if you become overly tired. That extra hour in the field isn't worth the chance of wrecking your equipment or experiencing an injury.
• · Communicate. Two-way radios or cellular phones can be used to periodically check on workers, to improve work efficiency, and to provide critical communications if an emergency should occur.
• · Work efficiently but don't rush. When it comes to working on the farm, the old adage "haste makes waste" has a multitude of very serious meanings. Cutting corners in safety procedures will cost you more than money. If you're careless, eventually you will be injured.