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AgriSafe in Action:
March 2021
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March Health Spotlight: National Nutrition Month |
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March is the National Library of Medicine National Nutrition Month. Use National Nutrition Month to showcase agricultural activities and promote the important role of agricultural producers as nutrient providers. Nutrition remains the basis for health, growth, development, and aging well. Farmers and ranchers serve as our initial nutrient providers. Agricultural producers are at the very foundation of the nutrient food chain and play a critical role in food security. For resources on improving nutrition click here.
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Linking Patient Portals and EHRs to Consumer Health Information |
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MedlinePlus Connect is a free service of the National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This service allows health organizations and health IT providers to link patient portals and electronic health record (EHR) systems to MedlinePlus, an authoritative up-to-date health information resource for patients, families, and health care providers. It is available in English and Spanish. MedlinePlus Connect is free and does not require registration. It may help you achieve one of the criteria for Meaningful Use of Health Information Technology.
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Addressing Military Needs in Agriculture |
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Addressing Military Needs in Agriculture
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CST
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Join us on March 17th for our webinar Addressing Military Needs in Agriculture. This webinar will offer a FREE 1 hour continuing nurse credit. A life of service from front to field, veteran farmers represent agriculture from large scale production to niche market small farm business. Veteran farmers comprise at least 10% of the US producers averaging 10 or more years working in agriculture. Veteran farmers as a group tend to be older by about 10 years than the average producer age. We can’t afford to lose seasoned, dedicated producers to unmet physical or mental health needs.
Our webinar speaker Dr. Crystal Kyle served just under ten years in the military with deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq in support of OEF and OIF. During her deployments with 159 and 82nd Airborne, she sustained a Traumatic Brain Injury, PTSD, back and knee injuries, as well as Moral Injuries. Her dissertation focused on military veterans who farm earning dissertation of the year. She faced many challenges attending college but found improved mental wellness when working on farms. For resources for veterans click here.
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Impacts of COVID-19 on Rural Mental Health |
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Our personal experiences regarding the impact of COVID 19 including the state of our mental health and stress, access to mental health resources as well as other contributions of mental health provide the backdrop as to how well our coping strategies are working. Recently, the American Farm Bureau Federation released a study entitled Mental Health Among Rural Adults and Farmers/Farmworkers. According to the study, "Two in three farmers/farmworkers (66%) say the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted their mental health." Click Here to view the results of the study.
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Anhydrous Ammonia Safety for Farmworkers
Tuesday, March 30, 2021
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CST
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Best PPE To Protect Your Lungs
Wednesday, March 31, 2021
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CST
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Practical Solutions for Heat-Related Illness Prevention for Agriculture
Wednesday, April 07, 2021
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM CST
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The National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS) has Farm First Aid Kits available for purchase that meet the needs of people working in agriculture. Designed with farm injuries in mind, the kits contain first aid supplies that are useful in an emergency response or for everyday use. They contain more than $85 worth of first aid supplies and thanks to the generosity of sponsors, they can sell them for only $40 plus shipping (if necessary). The Farm First Aid Kits include 114 pieces, such as: a large scissors/trauma shears to cut through heavy clothing, large bandages and knuckle bandages for when cuts and scrapes require more than a small adhesive bandage, a thermal blanket to protect from the elements, eye wash, instant cold compresses (ice packs), a CPR face shield, and much more. To order kits or request a shipping quote, please email Ashlee Then or call 563.557.0354 or 888.844.6322.
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On Farm Chemical Storage:
Invest in Safety, Invest in Management
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While Pesticide applicators have comprehensive training in chemical use, farm wives and children working and living on farms and ranches who have casual contact with farm chemicals do not. Workers in agriculture should purposefully invest in farm chemical organization and management by using the following tips:
- Label all chemical containers with a permanent marker as labels may become worn or fall off.
- Familiarize and have available MSDS.
- Keep track of chemicals and dispose of outdated, expired or unusable chemicals
- Store chemicals in a highly vented and lockable location
- Don’t stack chemical containers, use a stable shelving system
- Post appropriate hazard signs
- Check eye washing station to ensure it is operational
- Keep chemicals and personal protective gear in separate locations
- Wear protective gear recommended by the manufacturer such as respirators with multilevel gas protection cartridges
- Wash clothing exposed to agrichemicals separately and line dry as residual chemicals are likely highly-flammable and can easily catch fire in the heat of the dryer
- Run the washing machine through a clean cycle after cleaning work clothes.
- Take time to educate everyone on the farm about chemical safety.
Checkout AgriSafe's Hazard Communications Standards OnDemand webinar for more information on the identification and safe usage of chemicals and pesticides.
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Rural School Nurses Return to Campuses |
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The world of COVID has had a seismic impact on one group of unsung heroes – our rural school nurses. As an integral part of community education teams on our rural schools, these nurses provide support to the educators in the classrooms and to parents/guardians of the students. Just as teachers are excited to be back with their students, our school nurses are happy to be back on their “turf.” To all of you who carry the responsibility of school nursing, you have our gratitude – Thank You!
If you work with or collaborate with a school nurse in your community, let him/her know that they really are among our unsung heroes!
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ASHCA Safety Summit 2021: March 22-24, 2021 |
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Registration is now open for the Agricultural Safety and Health Council of America’s (ASHCA) North American Agricultural Safety Summit - Raising Safety, Cultivate a Culture of Safety. The March 22-24 virtual event will focus on how to identify and implement cost-effective, practical safety strategies that enhance the well-being of workers in agriculture. Register Here
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