Georgia Healthy Farmers Farm Safety Camp

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Georgia Healthy Farmers Farm Safety Camp was instituted in 1992 in order to reduce childhood farm injuries in Georgia. In 1994, the camp began offering two tracks -a general track for 10- to 13-year-olds and a tractor certification program for 14- and 15-year-olds. This article describes the general track and impact of camp attendance upon farm safety knowledge and behaviors. Model characteristics of the program include the agricultural college setting, residential format, research-based curriculum, experiential learning activities, professionally-qualified instructors, and low tuition. Pre-test and post-test measures indicated that the camp was age-appropriate, and attendance had a positive impact on farm safety knowledge for both male and female campers. Anecdotal data revealed that campers shared farm safety information with family members, adopted farm safety practices, and encouraged family members to adopt farm safety practices. In addition, surveillance data revealed that childhood farm injuries declined in target counties following the institution of the Georgia Healthy Farmers Farm Safety Camp.