FARM AND TRACTOR-RELATED FATALITIES IN CHILDREN IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Objective: To analyse the circumstances surrounding farm and tractor-r elated childhood fatalities in South Australia, to identify potentiall y dangerous situations and to delineate prevention strategies. Methods : A retrospective search of files was conducted at the Women's and Chi ldren's Hospital Department of Histopathology from 1981 to 1996, and t he State Coroner's Office from 1988 to 1996. Results: Fifteen fataliti es were identified comprising 11 boys and four girls (age range, 2 yea rs 11 months to 13 years; average, 6 years). Activities prior to death included riding on a tractor/trailer (n = 8); playing near a field gr ain storage bin (n = 2); playing near machinery (n = 2); sleeping in a car near a burn off (n = 1); walking around a dam (n = 1) and riding as a passenger on a motorbike (n = 1). Causes of death included multip le skull fractures and cerebral damage (n = 11), asphyxia (n = 2), dro wning (n = 1) and incineration (n = 1). Conclusions: The most dangerou s activity involved children riding unrestrained on tractors; falls re sulted in extensive injuries from tractor rear wheels or towed machine ry. Allowing children on farms to ride on tractors or machinery only i f there is a safe seat with a restraining harness would substantially reduce the number of fatal farm-related childhood injuries in South Au stralia.