OTTAWA, OH (WLIO) - Putnam County third graders learned about farm safety today.
All thirteen school districts in Putnam County sent their third graders to Dale and Ruth Gerding Farm for Farm Safety Days. The kids learned about emergencies that can occur on farmlands as well as safety precautions with farm equipment and materials. There was also a mock ATV accident on display with kids in real-time executing a 9-1-1 call with Putnam County EMS and life flight services from Mercy Health.
Farm owner Ruth Gerding knows the importance of educating the kids on potential life-saving methods.
"The ATV is very necessary because I'm surprised how many are already riding four-wheelers of some sort. But we also have lawn mower safety, electrical, chemicals, poisons, sun, tractors, PTO, grain entrapment, pond safety, so these kids are around all of that anyway, so it's imperative they learn the safety. What is really a blessing is when you have adults who were here as third graders, and they can recall a lot of the things they've learned. That is, to me, the most important part," stated Ruth Gerding, farm owner and safety coordinator.
This was the 25th year of the Putnam County Farm Safety Days at the Gerding Family Farm.
