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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1994-07-27, Page 21THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 1994. PAGE 21. Local man deals with adjustments after injury By Shane Taylor This week is Farm Safely Week. It’s a time set aside every year to educate as many people as possible about the eveipresent dangers on a farm. Many people will be indifferent to all the publicity about farm safe­ ty, others might think it’s just needless nagging, but to a few peo­ ple it’s a sober reminder of an unfortunate personal mishap. Many people want to believe that none of the stories about farm acci­ dents could ever happen to them. However, most farm accidents are caused by simple common mis­ takes or just plain bad luck. The victim’s story is often one that sounds very familar to most farm­ ers. Familiar, because they them­ selves do the same things eveiy single day. One local man's story begins on a typical day in late August, 1992 with hay season in full swing. Thirty-year-old Murray Hastings of RR4 Wingham was busy baling hay for his neighbor William Gar- niss. The long afternoon was slowly disappearing when the round baler became clogged around 4:30 p.m. Murray got out of the tractor to see what had happened. Nothing major, just some straw clogged up in the intake of the baler. Murray used his foot to try and clear away the excess straw. As he kicked the straw in, his leg became caught and he was dragged into the baler. The slip clutch let loose stopping Murray’s progress into the baler. He was stuck with his legs pinned up to the waist, for over six hours, until a neighbour finally dis­ covered and freed him at 11 p.m. It’s a rainy day in late July, 1994 and I’m going to meet Murray for the first time. He’s in the bam working away at some odds and ends. He has to reach for his crutches to support himself as he walks over to greet me, a big smile appears on his face. He has lost control of his left ankle and his right leg had to be amputated a week after the accident. Murray doesn’t remember that or much else for the first month or so after the incident, because of the heavy morphine doses he received. He was in a London hospital for over seven months before being transferred to a Hamilton hospital for another month and a half. Il’s been slightly over a year since Murray got out of hospital and began readjusting to farm life without the use of his leg. Murray has certainly come a long way since the accident. After nine months in the hospital, he is back running the farm and riding all the 15 yr. summary of Ont. farm fatalities farm vehicles. However, he is still taking one day at a time as he tries to cope and adjust to his new lifestyle. Some things have had to change on the Hastings’ farm since Mur­ ray’s return. Most of the livestock in the bams have been sold. The Community Social Services pur­ chased a two-way radio system for all the farm vehicles. The tractors have all been equipped with hand brakes. A lift was made for the combine. Murray jokes that his skill at welding and building have definite­ ly come in handy. This spring with the help of his mom, Murray planted over 150 acres of crop and fed all the cattle with a uni-loader. Murray has learned to take nothing for granted and that even little jobs can become major obstacles that have to be overcome. “There’s a different challenge everyday. The things I used to just do, I now have to slop and figure out how I’m going to do.” There are many people to whom Murray feels he owes a debt of gratitude, especially his family and neighbors, for the help and support he has received since the accident. His neighbors helped lake ofr the crop and feed the cattle while Mur­ ray was recovering in hospital. He especially acknowledges his moth­ er's support. Murray hopes everyone will pay attention to the safety messages stressed this week and tells people to “just use your head.” Though unfortunately there will be some who will forget about farm safely once this week is over, it would be good if they could try to remember just one thing. Il can happen to anyone, np one is immune. Murray Hastings agrees. Tractors still number 1 cause of deaths on farms Tractors still rank as the number one "killers" on Ontario farms. Fifty per cent of all work-related deaths on Ontario farms are linked directly to tractor use, most being rollovers to the side or rear. OMAFRA offers leadership course The theme for Farm Safety Week is Tractor Safety. The Farm Safety Association, with funding from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, is taking this message to all Ontario farms through a number of programs. The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs provided funding for the development of a new tractor safety video as well as print materials and display graphics which will be used throughout the province. Funding was also provided for a special issue of the Farmsafe newsletter distributed last March through the Farm and Country newspaper to 60,000 farms. Through this program, rural rescue personnel also received special rescue training at two locations in the Province on how to deal with farm accidents. The Farm Safely Association applauds the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs for its support to help get the safety message out to all farms. By Jane Muegge Rural Community Advisor Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs The rapidly changing environment is pulling pressure on rural and farm organizations. In response to this situation, a training program called Leadership in Action (LIA) has been developed for volunteers and staff of those organizations. LIA is a dynamic, hands-on conference for active members of rural organizations. This four-day program is being held from Sept. 27 - 30, at Cedar Glen Conference Centre, Bolton. "With more work to do than ever, but fewer volunteers and less money to do it with, the ideas and skills I’ll be going home with will be just what we need." "Networking with people from various organizations from across Ontario was very worthwhile." These arc just some of the comments of past participants indicating Leadership in Action has something to offer many different people. It is open to members of rural organizations who are enthusiastic and willing to develop new leadership skills. Sponsored by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), Leader­ ship in Action helps to build strong leadership in the rural community. The price is right al $200, which includes meals, facilities, training and lots of resources to take home. If interested in being part of Leadership in Action '94 contact the local OMAFRA office for more information, or write to: Leader­ ship in Action, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs, Box 1030, Guelph, Ontario N1H 6N1. The Huron County Board of Education invites tenders for FIRE SAFETY & CORRIDOR UPGRADES at Goderich District Collegiate Institute Sealed tenders addressed to The Huron County Board of Education will be received at the office of Garratt & Marklevitz, 516 Huron Street, Stratford, Ontario, N5A 5T7, until 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 10,1994. A Bid Bond amount of $20,000.00 is required to accompany the tender. The successful bidder will be required to provide a 50% Performance Bond and 50% Labour and Material Payment Bond. A limited number of tender documents will be available to General Contractors only, after July 26, 1994, at the office of Garratt & Marklevitz, upon deposit of a certified cheque in the amount of $50.00 per set Lowest or any tender not necessarily accepted. Paul Carroll Director . Graeme Craig ^Chair The Huron County Board of Education will accept applications for the following: CONTRACT CUSTODIAN TENDERS Plainly marked sealed tenders will be received by the undersigned prior to 12:00 noon, Monday, August 8, 1994, for contracting custodi­ al services at East Wawanosh Public School, Belgrave, Ontario, effective August 29, 1994. All interested parties must attend an information meeting and tour of the facility at 12 noon on Wednesday, August 3, 1994. All tenders must be submitted on official tender forms, which will be available only at the time of the tour. The lowest or any tender may not neces­ sarily be accepted. BUS DRIVER at Brookside Public School R.R. #7, Lucknow, NOG 2HO Duties to commence September 6, 1994. The successful candidate must hold a class "B” Driver’s Licence. Interested applicants should send a letter of application and resume outlining experience and education including references, to the undersigned by noon, Monday, August 8, 1994 Shelley King, Business Manager Huron County Board of Education 193 Albert Street Clinton, Ontario, N0M 1L0 Graeme Craig ^Chair Paul Carroll Director^