11 TIPS for summer safety

The summer months see a significant spike in the number of accidents in rural areas. Beef & Lamb NZ recommends identifying specific risks.

Children-specific safety

ACC figures show that more than 100 children are injured on quad and farm bikes annually.

Children lack the judgement, bodyweight, and strength to handle full-sized vehicles like quad bikes. They should only ride bikes appropriate for their age and height, in line with manufacturer’s specifications, wear safety gear (helmet, closed-in shoes), and always under adult supervision.

Other child-specific safety tips include:

• always supervise children – get older children to tell you where they’re going;

• model good habits and always wear a helmet on a quad or other type of bike;

• fit crush protection devices to quad bikes;

• don’t let them ride on tractors, quad bikes, ride-on mowers, or the back of utes;

• use seatbelts on any vehicle fitted with them;

• secure doors to areas where children shouldn’t go, such as storage areas for fuel and chemicals;

• always walk around farm vehicles before reversing, and check children are a safe distance away before starting the engine;

• consider having safety fences around play areas, animal pens, work areas, and water spots – cover tanks and wells with child-restraint covers or fill in disused ones.