Farms are particularly dangerous during the summer months due to increased work activity, when contractors or large machinery are operating.
Many farms are also family homes, as well as workplaces, with children often helping out.
Caroline Farrell, IFA farm family chair, has said that tragically, between 2009 and 2018, 21 children lost their lives due to farm accidents in Ireland.
"The statistics are stark, but statistics don’t tell the whole story – they don’t tell you about the devastating impact a farm fatality has on families and communities; they don’t tell you the impact a farm accident can have on the rest of your life, on your ability to run the farm.
"Understanding the risks on and around a farm operation makes it easier to avoid dangers, and makes accidents less likely. However, all too often, farmers do not recognise the risks on their farms, which makes it difficult to manage the problem," she said.
It is essential that children are educated on safety and risks involved on farms so they can form good safety habitats from a young age. A number of steps are required to minimise the number of fatalities that happen on Irish farms each year.
Top tips to keep your children safe on farms this summer:
Dangers of chronic sun exposure
The sun, especially throughout the summer, can be equally as dangerous as sunburn can potentially cause long-term health problems.
Prolonged sun exposure can increase the risk of skin cancer and as the majority of people in Ireland are fair-skinned, there is a greater threat.
Unfortunately, skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in Ireland with Caroline Farrell stating that “over 11,000 cases are diagnosed every year”.
However, sun cancer can be prevented in a lot of cases. To reduce the risk of skin damage, you can:
