Safe Community Program Extends Into the Country

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

A Safe Communities Program in Saskatchewan plans to focus special attention on one of the province's most injury-prone occupations: farming.

The coalition "Safe Communities Humboldt and Area" was formed in 2003 to better co-ordinate activities aimed at preventing injuries to infants, children and youth. Its members were initially drawn from the police, ambulance, fire, education and health service sectors.

Over time, the organization received support and funding from the Saskatchewan Safety Council, the Saskatoon Health Region, Canadian National Railway, SGI and Safe Kids Canada, as well as local businesses, municipal bodies, service clubs and other community-based organizations.

"The injury prevention initiatives this group has fostered have steadily increased over the years," said Collette Lessmeister, the Program Co-ordinator for the organization. Among its successes have been bicycle helmet awareness and passenger safety promotional activities, a Safe Watch newsletter and a pilot project entitled P.A.R.T.Y. (Prevent Alcohol and Risk-related Trauma in Youth), which was initiated in 2004 and expanded every year since.

There are now 10 different partner groups that work together on safety initiatives for the community of Humboldt and the surrounding area, aided by many volunteers and sponsors who make the programs possible. The program co-ordinator position was created to help organize the group's efforts to make the region a safer place to live, learn, work and play.

"Like most Safe Community Programs that start up across Saskatchewan, the reach of the Humboldt and area group extends far beyond the city's borders," Lessmeister said. "It has grown to become a very effective and very beneficial promoter of safety initiatives that are important to the surrounding region in areas like agriculture and rural development."

The coalition plans to step up its efforts in the countryside by forming a Farm Safety group made up of local producers, which will help to develop and deliver farm safety training programs to both rural and urban residents. It also plans to hold a Farm Safety Day in the spring in which local schools will be involved in interactive farm safety demonstrations.

"Our group has always recognized agriculture as an important part of the community, and we know that developing safe working habits at a young age pays off well into the future," Lessmeister said.

"The impact of farm injuries sometimes has more than just a short-term result. It can often affect a producer's ability to earn an income for years to come, and that's a situation we want to prevent."

Statistics show the group may have its work cut out for it. In an average year in Saskatchewan, there are 18 farm-related fatalities and 200 injuries requiring hospitalization. Those numbers put farming and ranching very high on the list of the province's most hazardous occupations.

It's a daunting task, but if past performance is any indicator, Safe Communities Humboldt and Area is up for the challenge.

More information on the group and its safety initiatives can be found online at http://www.safehumboldtarea.ca/ or by calling Collette Lessmeister at (306) 682-0705.

For more information, contact:
Collette Lessmeister, Program Co-ordinator
Safe Communities Humboldt and Area
Phone: (306) 682-0705
E-mail: safecommunity@sasktel.net
Website : http://www.safehumboldtarea.ca/