A man from Young was airlifted after being trapped under a hay bale on Monday, the first day of National Farm Safety Week.
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Two men were working on a property at Young when the bale fell on top of a 70-year-old, who had to be taken to Orange Hospital by helicopter. He sustained pelvic injuries in the accident.
The other man was taken to Young Hospital with back injuries.
This incident, along with another in the Penrith area where a woman was attacked by a bull while working on Monday morning, has prompted NSW Ambulance to speak out about the serious incidents they attend each year on farms.
Mark Gibbs, the NSW Ambulance zone manager for southern NSW said sometimes people don’t realise just how dangerous it can be.
“Sometimes people just don’t realise how badly they can injure themselves in a machinery or farm accident. In many cases the injuries are quite similar to traumatic injuries sustained in a car crash,” he said.
“Unfortunately farm accidents are all too common and in the majority of cases, many people just don’t take the proper safety precautions.
“Many of the incidents I’ve attended involve quad bikes and I cannot stress how important it is to make sure you wear a helmet and protective gear when riding a quad bike, tractor or using any other farm machinery.”
Superintendent Gibbs has this safety advice for farmers and their families:
- Keep a first aid kit, in your house, car and farm shed.
- Always tell someone where you are going and what time you’ll be back at.
- Make sure you have some kind of communication device so you can contact someone if you get into trouble.
- Always wear a helmet and safety gear.
- If you are felling trees or cutting wood- make sure you have a safe exit point.
- Do not attempt to operate any farm machinery unless you know what you are doing.
- Make sure you take precautions around animals and especially in cattle yards.
- Learn first aid from a local provider.
- Always call Triple Zero (000) in the event of an emergency.
- Teach your children how to call Triple Zero (000) for an ambulance
People living in regional areas or on properties are also encouraged to download the Emergency+ App.
This free app allows callers to pinpoint their location via their smartphone’s GPS functionality and verbally provide Triple Zero (000) call takers with the details.
“This app helps us to help you. Our call takers regularly encounter callers using the app and have even asked callers to download it to help us get to them faster,” Superintendent Gibbs said.