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.

According to the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Safety and Health, about every three days a child dies, and every day around 33 children are injured due to agriculture-related incidents in the United States. Sadly, when a child is severely or fatally injured, the entire community suffers. These tragedies can have lasting, devastating impacts on everything from the emotional well-being of family and friends, a strain on relationships, legal consequences, and can even jeopardize the farm itself.

As we head into the fall harvest season, rural roadways become busier than ever. Tractors and farm equipment are on the move, school buses are back on their routes, and more people are enjoying the crisp fall air by biking to work, school, or play. Unfortunately, this season also brings an increase in preventable roadway incidents—often caused by distractions, failure to obey traffic signs and signals, limited visibility, or simply being in a rush. With so much activity on the roads, it’s time to ask: “Are you Rural Road Ready?”

Whether commuting to work or school, exercising, or just for fun, leisure or recreational activities, warmer temperatures tend to bring out more cyclists. Therefore, it is important for both motorists and cyclists learn to share the road. Sadly, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, estimated around 1,166 bicyclists were killed in traffic crashes in 2023. Bicyclist deaths are highest during the summer months between June and September. Here are some important tips to begin a cycle of safety both before and during your bike ride.

After enduring a long, cold winter and tolerating the chilly spring months, many are looking forward to warmer weather as we enter the summer season. We want to soak up every second of the long summer days, creating lasting memories with our friends and families before the season slips away. To ensure that not a single moment of summer fun is missed, it’s important to be mindful of heat-related illnesses and protect yourself from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays.

Several adolescents will be embarking on a new chore around home, farm, or ranch over the next few months. Mowing the lawn is often one of the first chores involving gas-powered equipment. For many, mowing the lawn is viewed as a rite of passage, and for many teens can help earn extra income over the summer. However, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, every year in the United States more than 5,000 children seek treatment at an emergency department for injuries caused by power lawn mowers. Hazards exist for both the operator and bystanders, including rollovers, runovers, entanglements, sharp objects, collisions and projectiles. Therefore, to lessen the occurrence of an incident, proper training and guidance are essential.

After unusual weather this past winter, with all 50 U.S. states experiencing cold snaps and some form of snowfall, spring is now finally upon us. With warmer temperatures, the snow and ice are finally melted, revealing a ground ready for planting. As many farm families anxiously prepare for spring planting season, we are reminded of the upcoming busy days ahead.

In addition to racing against the clock to accomplish many tasks during daylight hours, Mother Nature can disrupt your plans, as the weather often has a mind of its own. Farmers often try to find a balancing act between the need for rain, and flooding that too much rain can cause. As we learned from history, extreme weather can occur at a moment’s notice, so it is important to prepare. 

One of the most dreadful sounds can be that of an alarm clock, especially when it doesn’t follow a restful night of sleep. The connection between sleep and health is real and impacts every one of us. Lack of sleep and poor-quality sleep can increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and other medical conditions. Therefore, prioritizing quality sleep can improve our overall health and well-being. 

While Valentine’s Day may be over, it’s not too late to show yourself some love. Flowers, chocolates, and stuffed animals are all nice things to receive, but nothing compares to the gift of getting a clean bill of health. Each February, the American Heart Association aims to shed light on preventative measures and strategies to stay healthy through the celebration of American Heart Month. While this month helps get important conversations started, it is up to each of us to keep our health a priority all year long. Placing a high emphasis on health often strengthens as we age; however, it is best to encourage the adoption of healthy habits during childhood. 

Brr… It’s cold outside! With winter now upon us, the need for home heating sources is on the rise. Sadly, half of home heating fires tend to occur during the months of December, January, and February. Heating equipment, including space heaters and heating stoves, is one of the leading causes of home fire deaths.