Rural Trauma Resuscitation and Prevention

Mike Abernethy runs you through the pitfalls and challenges of rural trauma resuscitation and prevention. The farm is a dangerous workplace. Accidents have an unusually high morbidity and mortality not only for the worker, but also his/her family members. The reasons are multi-factorial but are the result of a complex interaction of environment, equipment and human factors. The vast majority of agricultural deaths involve tractors. No other industry uses 70-year-old machinery operated by workers whose age ranges from 10 to 90. How can we prevent such incidents? Mike is a prehospital physician (who is a wannabe farmer & tractor mechanic) and long-time resident of an agricultural community. In this talk, he will examine the details of a life-threatening accident involving one of his neighbours which perfectly illustrates the multifaceted nature of agricultural trauma. He will then discuss agricultural trauma more broadly. The statistics are similar across the globe, from the United States to Australia, Cambodia to Ireland. Fatalities involve heavy machinery (usually tractors) and the farmer or their family. Furthermore, deaths occur between 18-60 years of age in most industries. In farming however, fatalities can occur across the whole life span.  Whilst there are equipment changes that have made things safer, they have a poor uptake amongst farmers. This is due in a large part to interference with productivity and functionality. Mike believes change can only come about through community engagement and education at a meaningful, personal level. Rural and farming communities are faced with inherent risk of injury and death on a daily basis. It is pertinent to be aware of this and to educate these communities when the opportunity presents itself. After all, if it is made of steel, sharp and moving… It will %^&* you up!

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