Kids
Farm Safety Day Camp
BEAVER SPRINGS (Snyder
Co.) According to the West
Snyder FFA Chapter, more than
100 community children recently
learned how to identify and deal
with hazards on the farm. Held
at the Beaver Community Fair
grounds in Beaver Springs, West
Snyder FFA Chapter’s Progres
sive Farmer Farm Safety Day
Camp drew children between the
ages of three to 12 from through
out the community for the day
long event.
Children learned how to take
responsibility for their own safe
ty, respect parents’ safety rules.
and share safety tips with their
family and friends, said Cynthia
Shaffer, West Snyder FFA co-ad
visor and coordinator for the
event.
A highlight of the day came
over the lunch hour when a spe
cial visit was made by the Life
Flight helicopter from Geisinger
Medical Center. The crew from
Life Flight landed in the West
Snyder Baseball field and ex
plained what they do in an emer
gency. Campers learned that by
wearing their seat belts and the
bicycle helmets they received at
camp, they would greatly reduce
their chances of ever needing
Life Flight. After answering
questions from the camp partici
pants, the Life Flight visit was
cut short by an emergency.
Hands-on experience led by
members of the West Snyder
FFA Chapter taught camp par
ticipants lifetime farm safety les
sons. Shaffer said that she hopes
that by sharing and applying the
lessons learned at camp, partici
pants will help reduce the num
ber of rural children who die or
are injured in farm accidents.
Throughout the day, the camp
participants rotated throughout
10 safety stations. Each group
was led to the stations by mem
bers of the West Snyder Jr. High
FFA Chapter, Sr. High FFA
Chapter, Middleburg Boy Scouts,
and local 4-H clubs. The West
Snyder Sr. High FFA members
conducted the safety presenta
tions for all the safety sessions.
Jennifer McWilliams, 1999-2000 West Snyder and SUN Area FFA President demon
strated animal safety at the West Snyder FFA and Progressive Farmer Farm Safety Day
Camp. Campers learned how to safely approach an animal and how to handle one.
At the Basic First Aid station,
FFA members Tiffany Esben
shade and Jenna Briggs ex
plained how to bandage a
wound. Each camp participant
assembled their own first aid for
them to keep. Jenna and Tiffany
explained how to use the kit.
At the Chemical Safety sta
tion, FFA members Jessica Wal
ter and Elizabeth Hollenbach ex
plained the similarities between
household chemicals and certain
food and candy products. Camp
participants received emergency
cards and stickers promoting
safety.
At the Gun Safety station,
FFA members Hannah Etzler
and Daphne Wagner with the as
sistance of Jeff Mock, Mifflin
County Wildlife Conservation
Officer from the PA Game Com
mission taught gun safety. Using
the Eddie Eagle curriculum from
the National Rifle Association,
campers were taught to “stop,
don't touch, leave the area, tell
an adult," when they see a gun.
Mock also explained how to safe
ty handle a gun for the older
children. Campers received
Eddie Eagle stickers and book
lets.
Campers made their own ear
plug key chain at the Personal
Protective Device station. Chap
ter members Luke Zerby and
Chuck Kessler demonstrated the
value of wearing safety glasses,
steel-toed shoes, and a hard hat.
Each camp participant also re
ceived a “Best of Country
Music” cassette tape.
At the Bicycle Safety Station,
each camper was professionally
fitted for their own bicycle hel
met. The helmets were donated
by the Snyder County Chapter of
Lutheran Brotherhood and Se
linsgrove Wal-Mart. The North
Central Highway Safety Net
work, Inc. sent a team of three
members to fit the bike helmets
for each child. Chapter members
Derek Fetterolf and Victoria
Adams explained bike safety.
Each child also had their picture
taken with a digital camera and
a bike license printed and lami-
of
Korner
The West Snyder FFA and Progressive Farmer Magazine Farm Safety Day Camp was
host to a public relations presentation by Life Flight from Geisinger Medical Center.
Camp participants were able to ask questions about the use of Life Flight and see
what takes place aboard the helicopter.
nated for them
Chapter members Travis Cat
herman and Andrew Kreamer
conducted the ATV and Lawn
Mower safety session. The partic
ipants were able to view the safe
and unsafe parts of the equip
ment. Participants received bro
chures, erasers, and a Progressive
Farmer bag at this station.
The Water and Sun Safety sta
tion was taught by FFA members
Heather Hollenbach and Melissa
McWilliams. Campers learned to
wear life jackets and when to
apply sunscreen. They received
beach balls, sunscreen samples,
and coloring books at this sta
tion.
At the Animal Safety station,
Jennifer McWilliams taught
campers about how to safely ap
proach an animal and how to
handle them. Each participant
practiced their new skills on a
live cow. They received Got Milk
stickers, pencils, and cow erasers.
At the Fire Safety Station, FFA
member Phaedra Wray and the
Beavertown Volunteer Fire Com
pany taught campers about what
£4 #•
to do in case of a fire. Campers how difficult it is to see around a
practiced their “stop, drop, and tractor when driving. They also
roll” techniques and learned to learned about safety around the
crawl under smoke. They re- PTO and farm implements. They
ceived coloring books, pencils, received a free International Toy
and a safety folder. Tractor compliments of CB
FFA members Brandon Her- Hoober, Inc. and John Deere
man and Daniel Renninger Coloring Books, pencils, and lol
taught the Farm Equipment Sta- lipops from Deerfield Ag and
tion. Using a tractor and hay Turf and Lost Creek Imple
baler, campers were able to see ments.
Luke Zerby, former West Snyder and Pa. FFA associa
tion president, demonstrates the importance of wearing
personal protective devices at the West Snyder FFA and
Progressive Farmer Farm Safety Day Camp recently.
Campers saw how their head, hands, and feet could be
crushed without proper protection. They also learned the
importance of wearing safety glasses.
Phaedra Wray, West Snyder FFA member taught the
fire safety session at the West Snyder FFA and Progres
sive Farmer Farm Safety Day Camp recently. Campers
learned how to “stop, drop, and roll” if they were on fire
and were able to practice their skill. They also learned to
crawl under smoke if their House was on fire.