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Well,
here we are at the time of year to start back to school. I hope your
summer has been exciting and very rewarding. If you are in 4-H, I know
it has been. We have been so busy with state contests in all kinds of
areas: forestry, wildlife, horse judging, hippology, meats and livestock
judging, and State Competitive Day. Each of these events gives youth the
opportunity to excel and grow in their own area of interest. Our motto
in 4-H is to "Make the Best Better" and I think we are
definitely on course! Please help us lead youth in your area; volunteer
to help with things important or fun to you. It gives you a large sense
of accomplishment and the kids a great deal of knowledge. Enjoy your
time and keep helping develop our Alabama youth.
Despite
higher gasoline prices, ATVs remain very popular with both adults and
kids. They are often used in outdoor activities, like hunting and
camping, and sometimes are important tools or work. And, of course,
riding ATVs is lots of fun! But we sometimes forget ATVs can be just
plain dangerous - especially for young people. Nationwide, ATVs injure
and kill thousands of children under the age of 16 every year. In fact,
the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of
Orthopedic Surgeons have adopted formal policies recommending children
under 16 not even drive ATVs.
Here
are some of the facts about ATV use:
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36 percent of farm youth operate ATVs. Farm youth are more likely to
operate an ATV than a tractor.
•
Males account for 69 percent of the estimated 2,246 non-fatal youth
ATV-related injuries each year.
•
Nearly half of youth ATV-related fatalities involve head and neck
injuries. Most ATV-related injuries involve youth not wearing a helmet.
•
Almost 90 percent of children under 16 injured in an ATV incident were
riding an adult-sized ATV, vehicles weighing up to 1,000 pounds.
•
Less than 4 percent of injured ATV riders participated in formal safety
training.
•
ATV operators under the age of 16 are 4.5 times more likely than older
operators to receive injuries requiring emergency room treatment.
We,
in 4-H, have developed an extensive ATV safety training program, so
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Senior Horse Judging - Left to right (first to fifth) Kaelee Jordan,
Talladega Co.; Elizabeth Moulton, Elmore Co.; Megan Boyles, Marshall
Co.; Nicole Adams, Fayette Co.; Alex Chappell, Marshall Co.
Senior Hippology - Left to right (first to fifth) Elizabeth Moulton, Elmore Co.; Ellen Rankins, Lee Co.; Katie Hill, Elmore Co.; Megan Boyles, Marshall Co.; Makenzie Zaborszki, Madison Co.
Junior Horse Judging - Left to right (first to fifth) Allie Lyle, Fayette Co.; Taylor Tanaka, Montgomery Co.; Lindsey Johnson, Elmore Co., Sarah Slay, Talladega Co.; Kathryn Tucker, Talladega Co.
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