While eliminating every risk a child encounters can be a challenge, firearm injuries involving young people are not simply unavoidable incidents. According to the Children’s Safety Network, an average of approximately 4,300 children and adolescents (ages 0 to 19), died each year from firearm-related injuries between 2022 and 2024. Together, we can help reduce the potential for tragedy by ensuring responsibility begins long before a child ever encounters a firearm.

Youth firearm safety is a shared responsibility. Parents and guardians have an important role, but so do grandparents, babysitters, coaches, teachers, and other adults who welcome children into their homes or care for them. The strongest safety culture is one in which adults consistently model caution, secure firearms responsibly, communicate openly, and take reasonable steps to prevent unauthorized access.

As summer gives way to fall, rural communities come alive with activity. School buses return to their daily routes, tractors and farm equipment travel between fields, and grain trucks head to elevators. Additionally, families enjoy the beauty of harvest season and crisp fall air while walking or biking through the communities. While this time of year is one of the busiest and most rewarding, it also presents increased risks on our rural roadways. Keeping everyone safe requires one simple commitment: shared responsibility.

Tractors are one of the most essential pieces of equipment in agriculture. From planting and harvesting to hauling and mowing, tractors help farmers accomplish countless tasks every day. Yet tractors remain one of the leading causes of serious agriculture-related incidents. Of the leading source of fatalities among youth, 47% involved transportation (including tractors) according to data from the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agriculture Health and Safety (NCCRAHS). Therefore, safety education is extremely important, especially for anyone growing up on or around farms or living in rural communities.

When school lets out for summer break, many children will have more free time and be looking for ways to tackle boredom. Without their normal routine and schedule, children will likely spend more time online. From gaming, using social media, watching videos, or connecting with friends, increased screen time can also mean increased exposure to online risks. According to the Child Crime and Prevention Center, children aged 12 to 15 are among the most vulnerable and are often susceptible to being groomed or manipulated by adults they meet online. Therefore, June is an ideal time to recognize and reflect on these dangers during National Internet Safety Month. 

Spring is truly a season of transformation. All winter long, many have been thinking, and even dreaming, about the projects they hope to tackle this season. From general repairs to adding new fixtures, various tools and equipment will be used along the way. Here are a few safety tips to keep in mind, especially with children watching and wanting to help. 

Springtime is upon us. Birds are chirping, flowers are blooming and we tend to see additional activity on and around the roadways. Warmer temperatures lead to more people walking or biking. Road trips are being planned to watch baseball games, see nature in bloom, and everything in between. In rural communities, farm equipment will be on the move with the start of the spring planting season. Therefore, we all need to take responsibility for safety when we are in a vehicle and sharing the roadway. 

Spring planting brings a familiar mix of optimism and urgency. As snow melts and the ground dries, a field emerges ready for planting. Equipment will soon begin rolling and tasks will be checked off the to-do list with every pass across the field. With the arrival of spring, barns and pastures come alive as newborn calves, lambs, and chicks bring a fresh, renewed sense of promise to the farm. Unfortunately, spring planting is also a season when many farmers feel tempted to press their luck—to skip a step, stretch a day a little longer, or push through fatigue to beat the next rain. But when it comes to safety, spring is not the time to gamble.

The Valentine’s Day holiday, celebrated annually on February 14, is often associated with love, kind gestures, and romance. However, while some are showered with things like flowers, chocolates, jewelry, and fancy dinners, others feel the negative emotions, including loneliness, sadness, and anxiety. Unfortunately, the glamor or fairytale of the holiday often does not live up to the hype. Not everyone is in a healthy relationship, with some going through a break-up, while others may be experiencing the holiday for the first time after the passing of a loved one. 

Hours, weeks, or months; how long will your New Year’s resolutions last? Each year, many of us give in to the pressure of adopting resolutions. Whether it’s a desire to learn something new, seek a lifestyle change, or eliminate an unfavorable or unhealthy habit, we often have the best intentions. Unfortunately, most resolutions end up being short-lived and rarely make it past January. However, the beginning of a new year is a great time to prioritize safety goals by revisiting and refreshing safety plans around your home, farm, or ranch.

From twinkling lights to the smell of pine and peppermint, it is evident that the holiday season is now upon us. As many are in search of the perfect gift for that special someone, it is important to always keep safety at the forefront. While you get your shopping list ready and check it twice, here are some ideas to serve up a side of safety and health with each gift with 12 Days of Safe Gift Giving.

Safety and health truly go hand in hand for the Progressive Agriculture Foundation® (PAF), and their flagship Progressive Agriculture Safety Day® (PAF Safety Day) program. While PAF touts hands-on, peer-reviewed curriculum on more than 30 safety topic areas, the primary objective has always been to introduce children to preventative strategies. Lessons are designed to help children avoid both present and future health-related concerns by implementing safety measures. Whether at home, at school, or at play, we strive to help children avoid incidents, which could lead to an emergency room visit or an extended hospital stay.

From cooking and home heating to lithium-ion batteries and electrical malfunctions, fires can ignite and quickly spread in and around the home. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, home fires have claimed more than 1,500 lives so far in 2025. Therefore, to shed light on this important issue, the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA) and fire departments across the country celebrate Fire Prevention Week™ (FPW) each October. This year’s campaign is themed Charge into Fire Safety and will take place October 5-11, 2025.