Achieving a feeling of safety and security is important to everyone these days---on the farm and around the home.

On the farm, taking precautions for a safe operation and being prepared for an emergency are necessary to prevent potential mishaps. Off the farm, patience with slow-moving farm equipment can save lives. On or off the farm, chemicals should be stored and used properly. Safety is everyone’s business---farm and city dweller.

"As a farmer, I have seen the horrible results of one too many shortcuts taken, of one disastrous moment of inattention” said Les Tindal, Commissioner of Agriculture. “The cost is sometimes the life of a loved one. And even if a farming accident doesn't take a life, it often changes it forever - for the farmer, for the entire family."

The following are safety practices on and off the farm:

A Frustrating Situation for Non-farmers
Ever been late for an appointment, only to find yourself following a tractor? That can be frustrating, but don’t let emotions get the best of you. The time it takes to follow a tractor even two miles is about the same as hitting two red lights while driving through town.

So when you find yourself behind a tractor, relax and wait until you can safely pass. A little patience can go a long way.

Say No to Extra Riders and Yes To a Safe Future
South Carolina’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Communicators and the National Safety Council encourage parents and guardians of children to voluntarily prohibit children from riding on farm equipment. Children and adults riding on a tractor can be severely injured or killed if they fall off the tractor. Say no to extra riders and yes to a safe future.

How Slow Is Slow?
We all know that spine-tingling chill when we pop over a hill to find a slow-moving vehicle ahead of us.

It takes split-second reactions. In fact, even if you’re following a tractor from a distance you’re closing the safety gap between the two of you at an average rate of about 59 feet per second. That’s the length of a football field in just five seconds.

Many farm vehicles are on the road this time of year. Be prepared and drive defensively.

Use Some Understanding
Country roads can be beautiful in the fall. But always be on the lookout for farm vehicles on those roads. Farmers must transport grain and other harvest equipment to and from fields. Sometimes it’s slow-going, which can be frustrating to both farmers and motorists who use the same roads to get back and forth to work.

Show some understanding when you come upon farm vehicles, slow down, keep your eyes on the road, and wait until it is safe to pass.

Highway Safety for Farm and Ranch Residents
Many farm residents are seriously injured or killed each year in automobile accidents. It is important that as motorists that you make sure you and everyone in the vehicle wear their seat belt. All children should be securely fastened in the seat belt and placed in the back seat. To prepare you better for possible driving hazards Defensive Driving classes are available around the country.

Chemicals and Kids Don’t Mix
South Carolina’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Communicators and the National Safety Council remind parents on the farm and in the city that chemicals and kids can be a deadly combination.

Keep pesticides and other toxins away from youngsters. Remind them that chemical storage areas are “Off Limits” as playgrounds. And, after using toxic chemicals, immediately clean and dispose of the containers. Remember that a poisoning can happen in the time it takes to turn your back.

Rural Highway Risks
Harvest season means an increase in farm machinery traffic on rural highways. As farmers rush to meet harvest deadlines, vehicles and farm machinery will be on the road. The Agriculture and NaturalNational Safety Council urges you to follow these driving guidelines.

If your farm equipment operates at less than 25 miles per hour, be sure to get a slow-moving vehicle emblem that is clearly visible from the rear.
Use flashing hazard lights to warn other vehicles about wide loads and frequent turns.

Remember, road safety can prevent your harvest drive from becoming a one way trip.

For more safety information, log on to the National Safety Council at http://www.nsc.org/