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Learn to make the right decisions in the crucial time between discovery of an accident and arrival of emergency medical personnel. This publication provides detailed discussions and decision-and-action diagrams for specific farm accident scenarios involving machinery, storage facilities, chemicals, and electrocution. Since such accidents often occur in isolated areas where help is not immediately available, those arriving first on the scene must understand the hazards and necessary reactions to enable a victim to survive. (1989)

The problem of how to respond quickly and effectively to farm accidents is the topic of a publication in NRAES's farm safety series. First on the Scene, NRAES-12, is intended to enable rural residents and farm workers to make the right decisions in the crucial time between discovery of the accident and the arrival of the emergency medical team. The bulletin progresses from a description of primary considerations in all accident situations to detailed discussion of specific farm accident scenarios, including those involving machinery, storage facilities, chemicals, and electrocution. A special feature of the 46-page bulletin is the series of "Decision-and-Action Tree" diagrams which lead the reader through the steps which constitute the best response to various accident situations.

Since farm accidents often occur in isolated areas where professional help is not readily available, it is important that people who arrive first on an accident scene understand the hazards present in the farm environment. First on the Scene, NRAES-12, calls attention to these hazards and discusses how rural residents can help the victim survive without becoming victims themselves. One important step, the bulletin shows, is to become familiar with all machinery, storage facilities, and chemicals used on the farm. The bulletin also addresses the following problems commonly encountered in accident situations: how to determine whether it is safe to approach the victim and when to go for help and when to remain with the victim. Appendices contain a lesson on shutting off diesel tractors and suggestions for first aid kit contents. Included in the back of the bulletin is a form for posting accident reporting information, and advice is given on how to communicate effectively with emergency medical personnel.

First on the Scene, NRAES-12, was written by Dennis J. Murphy, agricultural engineering professor at The Pennsylvania State University; John Pollack, executive director of the NYS Rural Health & Safety Council, Inc.at Cornell University; Gary Smith,extension safety specialist at the University of Maryland; Thomas Bean, associate professor of agricultural engineering at The Ohio State University; and Marty Sailus, director of the Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service.

First on the Scene, NRAES-12, is available for $7.00 (plus shipping and handling) from NRAES, Cooperative Extension, PO Box 4557, Ithaca, New York 14852-4557. Quantity discounts are available. The shipping and handling charge is $4.25 for a single copy within the continental United States. New York residents, add sales tax (calculated on both the cost of publications and the shipping and handling charges. Click here for more information). If ordering more than one copy or if ordering from outside the United States, please contact NRAES for shipping costs. Orders from outside the United States must be prepaid in U.S. funds. Major credit cards are accepted, and checks should be made payable to NRAES. For information about quantity discounts, or for a free publications catalog, contact NRAES by phone at (607) 255-7654, fax (607) 254-8770, or e-mail nraes@cornell.edu. NRAES Web site http://www.nraes.org includes a list of other publications.