Sometimes you have to write these things even though you'd rather not. Stay out of grain bins unless you are absolutely sure you have every safety practice in place, back-up in case something goes wrong and you've double checked everything.
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The South West Ag Conference heard a remarkable story this week from a farmer who was trapped in one and survived. It is only remarkable because he did survive.
Too often the victims are children, but children or adults the deaths are so senseless.
Then again any sort of an accidental death that didn't have to happen is so senseless and most accidents including those on farms and around households fall into that category.
In this case it was an adult and it had a happy ending and maybe that will serve as a warning and save a few other lives. I hope so.
There seems to be something particularly hard about grain bin deaths. Especially when children are involved.
There are likely more children who drown unsupervised in swimming pools every year than suffocate in grain bins, but it may hit harder at least to a farm community, because it is so closely related to agriculture.
I always think when I get off on this tangent that I am striking new grief into the heart of some-one who has lost some-one to a preventable accident and for whom the grief is too new.
But it needs to be said.
I hope those who heard the message listen, I hope those who didn't hear the message directly get it indirectly and also listen.
If you think you don't have time, or want to spend the money for the equipment for safety I've said it before and I'll likely say it again. Imagine growing old without your kids. And then imagine your kids growing up without you.
