It’s important for parents of farm children to keep an eye on those youngsters all year round. Now with the pandemic and many out of school due to virtual learning, that may heighten the risk of children getting involved in accidents on the farm. Scott Heiberger with the National Farm Medicine Center says the most common accidents on the farm involving children revolve around machinery.

He says the second most common accident involves kids and animals. Heiberger adds that one thing to be aware of with the pandemic is the change from normal activities that leave children roaming more freely on the farm and thus more susceptible to risky situations.

He says this year when the pandemic ramped up in March, young people were out of school and officials in Iowa noticed that led to more accidents with children and all terrain vehicles that normally would occur in the summer.