Re: Passengers on tractors, especially young kids.

Posted by Steven f/AZ on August 13, 2008 at 07:51:59 from (216.67.213.217):

In Reply to: Passengers on tractors, especially young kids. posted by BLINDHAWG on August 12, 2008 at 18:00:50:

After reading all of the responses, I have some more thoughts on the subject...

I'm not that old (27) and things have changed quite a bit in my lifetime... When my parents adopted me, I rode home in my mom's lap in the front seat - on family vacations or even a trip to town I was allowed to move around the car and play, even on the rear shelf above the seat! My daughter was born this February, they wouldn't let us leave the hospital without putting her in the car seat and making sure it was installed correctly. Why? Because now we know better, we realize that lives were lost due to the lack of safety equipment and use of seat belts.

I agree that a person can be injured or killed in many ways - every time you get in a vehicle you take a risk, but a calculated risk at that. Even staying at home you take a risk of fire, burglars, etc. - but again a calculated risk. The point is, a situation's risk needs to be assessed before going through with it. Is it really worth it? Could it be done more safely with an extra five minutes of precaution?

I grew up on the farm, did a lot of dangerous things looking back, thank God that I survived all of it, but realize now that there is a SAFER way to do it. I wouldn't trade my upbringing for anything, but still can't help but think what my life would be like if I still had both feet, good knees, and a good back... heck, might be nice to have all of my hearing, too!

I can't imagine how my parents felt, standing right there, watching me fall into the grain auger. I can't imagine how they felt months, even years later as they watched me limp across the yard to get on the tractor and get to work. I can't imagine how they felt when I had to quit sports because I couldn't run without causing myself great pain. I can't imagine how they feel every time I use a grain auger to load or unload a truck.

Am I going to deny my daughter the pleasure of riding on a tractor with me? Probably not. Am I going to try to do it in a safer manner? You bet I am! I hope that she gets the opportunity to learn about how everything works on the farm and can experience the true joy of working the land to make things grow and feed the world, but I don't want her life or health risked over a few minutes of entertainment.

Common Sense is very important, and it can change as the years go by - we know more now than we did ten, fifteen, twenty, thirty, fifty years ago. We need to use what we know to provide a safe environment for our children.

Again, children are our most precious resource, please think before doing and do your best to be as SAFE as possible!

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