Vermont AgrAbility continues to work diligently with the Vermont Farm Health and Safety Coalition. The Vermont Department of Health has just released the first-ever farm-related injuries data briefs. From 2014 to 2016 there were 187 reported injuries that occurred on a farm in Vermont to Vermont residents. This represents a rate of 10.0 per 100,000 Vermonters. 89.8% of these injuries resulted in transport by EMS.
Results from EMS documents show that 48.4% were due to falls, 9.3% were due to being struck by or against an object, 7.1% were due to machinery accidents, and the other 27.1% encompassed a variety of causes including firearms, overexertion, and burns. This data comes from the persistence of the Vermont Farm Health and Safety Coalition pushing for such data.
Vermont AgrAbility has started working with Blue Cross Blue Shield to prepare for the 2018 Vermont farm show coming the last week in January. Blue Cross Blue Shield has funded VT AgrAbility's exhibits for the past two years, and staff thank them for that support.
Submitted by Tom Younkman