It may only take moments for an emergency to become a tragedy.

As part of National Stop the Bleed Month in May, the Progressive Agriculture Foundation worked to shed light on the initiative to offer training and guidance. Someone who is severely injured can bleed to death in as few as five minutes.

“That is really scary to think about,” Jana Davidson, education content specialist for the Progressive Agriculture Foundation said. “We want to give folks the tools to be prepared in case an incident happens where they have to jump in and take action.”

The Progressive Agriculture Foundation is the largest rural safety and health education program for children in North America. The nonprofit provides education, training and resources targeted toward youth living in farm, ranch and rural life through events across the country known as Progressive Agriculture Safety Day.

Davidson said they follow the guidelines of the American Red Cross and other organizations to know what teaching materials are age-appropriate for children.

“What to do if there is not an emergency tourniquet available,” Davidson said. “How children can go find something like a belt or just something even to aid another adult and help take care of someone else in need.”

One of the main focuses at Progressive Agriculture Safety Day is to have a first aid kit readily available and even having multiple placed around the farm whether it is in the barn, a tractor cab, UTV, truck, or home. It is also important to make sure none of the supplies have expired.

The foundation did put in-person instruction on hold because of COVID-19 but is still offering learning opportunities through daily drops on social media. Davidson added a virtual event is in the works as well.

“We’re going to have a wide range of topics so everything that is very ag specific as well as things that would apply to any child that's in a rural community, life-saving skills and also safety and health information that really would apply to anyone,” Davidson said.

In addition to physical safety, Davidson said May is also Mental Health Month, which is especially critical as individuals and families face the emotional strain of a pandemic, the stress of planting season, or many other factors.

“We want to make sure we're taking a break, Davidson said. “Nobody should feel guilty about that. Taking a mental health break could be reading a book. It could be taking a walk now that is getting nicer outside. Ride a bike. Don't be afraid to watch a good comedy on television and have a laugh. It is hard in this time when we’re losing our regular routine.”

One suggestion she had to get the entire family involved was to take a soccer ball and write an activity in each of the sections. After kicking or tossing the ball around, see where someone’s thumb lands, and that is the activity for the day.

“There’s been a lot of highs and lows,” Davidson said. “Sometimes you’re really missing connections and your friends and family, so anytime we can keep those connections in front of us and take a minute for ourselves we’re going to feel better.”

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