Southeastern NEWS
Southeastern Louisiana University
Public Information Office
publicinfo@selu.edu
SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
Date: 8/16/00
Contact: Christina Chapple 101
Editors: Photo accompanies release Please note local interest
SLU, PROGRESSIVE FARMER MAGAZINE HOST FARM SAFETY CAMP FOR KIDS
HAMMOND -- Children ages 11-13 from Tangipahoa, St. Tammany, St. Helena and
Washington parishes can learn about farm safety at a special camp, the first of it kind in
southeast Louisiana, scheduled for Southeastern Louisiana University on Sept. 23.
The "Progressive Farmer" Farm Safety Day Camp is hosted by the Southeastern
Department of Nursing's Healthy Farm Families Initiative and Progressive Farmer Magazine.
Scheduled for 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Southeastern's Nic Cefalu Coliseum, the camp will
capitalize on fun to communicate safety messages. Safety topics will be taught at age-appropriate
learning stations where campers will participate in hands-on demonstrations and learning games,
said Ann Carruth. Carruth is helping to organize the camp along with fellow Southeastern
nursing professor Georgia LaCour, camp coordinator, and Covington High School agriculture
teacher Bill Lambert of Loranger.
Carruth said campers will learn through demonstrations and discussions how to be safe
around large farm animals, tractors, chemicals and other "hidden hazards," fire, all-terrain
vehicles, water, mowers and trimmers. They also will learn about first aid and will receive a t-
shirt and package of safety materials.
. "This will be a fun-filled day," Carruth said. "Southeastern's Department of Nursing is
proud to be part of this community, grass roots effort to increase awareness of the need for farm
safety."
Carruth said registration is limited to 200 participants, who must pre-register by Sept. 15
and pay a $3 fee. Lunch will be provided.
Registration forms are available at local Cooperative Extension Service offices and from
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FARM SAFETY DAY CAMP AT SLU Add One
the organizers: Lambert, 504-878-2084, Carruth, 504-549-3379, and LaCour, 225-769-0437.
Carruth said Progressive Farmer Magazine has organized more than 300 safety camps
throughout the nation. Southeastern's camp is the first in this area. LaCour traveled to Nebraska
this summer to learn about organizing a camp session at Southeastern.
Southeastern's Healthy Farm Families Initiative is part of a four-year contract between
the Department of Nursing and the Southwest Center for Agricultural Health, Injury Prevention
and Education. Through a variety of programs created and delivered by Southeastern nursing
students and faculty, the initiative brings information about health and safety to farming
communities in southeast Louisiana parishes.
Over the last two years, safety programs have included hosting a stress relief workshop
for farm women and conducting a three-week safety program for Loranger Elementary second
graders. Students have offered blood pressure and diabetes screening at local festivals, updated
students' immunization vaccines at Northeast Elementary in Zachary, and performed a puppet
show stressing the "one seat-one rider" tractor safety rule, also at Loranger Elementary. Nursing
graduate students also offered a brain attack screening clinic where farm families could
determine if they were at risk for stroke.
While serving the community, the Healthy Farm Families Initiative provides valuable
hands-on experience for Southeastern students in the crucial area of community health care,
Carruth said.
-SLU-
Press release available online at www.selu.edu./NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/newsm00.htm