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June 2000  You
Are Here.
June
2000
Penny War Raises Money for
PA Dairy Farmer
Five agricultural fraternities and sororities at the Pennsylvania State
University's University Park campus held a 'Penny War'. The 'Penny War'
is a competition during the fall between the Greeks as to which agricultural
fraternity or sorority could collect the most money. For the second year
in a row, they decided the proceeds would be given to an AgrAbility farmer
for modifications.
Terry, a Mercer County dairy farmer, was chosen as the recipient of this
year's Penny War funds. Terry was honored at the 'Penny War' dinner hosted
by Tau Phi Delta. A representative from Tau Phi Delta presented Terry
with a cashier's check for $406.
At the dinner Sigma Alpha sorority received the "traveling trophy" as
the agricultural fraternity/sorority that collected the most money
for the 'Penny War'. AgrAbility for Pennsylvanians would like to thank
Alpha Gamma Rho, Alpha Zeta, Delta Theta Sigma, Sigma Alpha, and Tau
Phi
Delta for their interest in AgrAbility and the many hours of coordinating
this exciting event.
AgrAbility's New Location at Ag Progress Days
For the past two years, AgrAbility has been located in the 'Family Room'
at Ag Progress Days, which is a great building with activities for the
whole family.
This year, AgrAbility for Pennsylvanians is partnering with Agromedicine
and Farm Safety, and our new location will be in the "Agricultural
Safety and Health" tent, located next to Dennis Murphy's farm
safety demonstration area. The activities in the tent will focus on
farm safety,
modifications for agricultural worksites, and Agromedicine.
During your visit to Ag Progress Days, please stop by the new Ag Safety
and Health tent. If you are interested in volunteering all or part of
a day, please contact Linda Fetzer at (814) 238-4434 {TTY/Voice}. We hope
to see many of you in August at Ag Progress Days!
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Tri-County Farm Safety Day
Camp - Jefferson Co. Fairgrounds - Friday, June 23, 2000
- Clarion/Venango Co. Town
& Country Day - Saturday, July 8, 2000 - Emlenton, Jefferson County
- Institute in Excellence
2000 - Shippensburg, PA - July 12-13, 2000
- Cumberland Co. Farm Safety
Day Camp - Newville Fairgrounds - Friday, August 11, 2000
- Ag Progress Days - Rock
Springs Agricultural Center - August 15 - 17, 2000
- 2000 National AgrAbility
Training - San Antonio, TX - November 7-10, 2000
Therapist's Corner - Soothing
Those Summer Aches and Pains
As we all get back to our active summer lives, it seems as though we suffer
from a lot of aches and pains. These sometimes-serious sprains and strains
can often be soothed with simple remedies. The most popular self-treatments
tend to include either heat or cold. Both of these modalities can be very
helpful when used for the appropriate injury at the proper time in the
healing cycle. It seems that heat is usually the choice of self- treatment
for most people, but this may not always be the best choice. Immediately
following an injury heat may encourage increased swelling and local inflammation,
which may cause more pain.
Typically, heat is beneficial a few days after the initial injury has
occurred. At this time heat will help to increase blood flow, loosen tight
muscles and decrease pain. Various forms of heat are beneficial to use
including an electric moist heating pad (moist heat penetrates deeper
than dry heat), a warm water bath or a wet towel heated in the microwave.
Remember, it is best to leave the heat on the injured area for 15-20 minutes
at a time. Immediately following an injury and sometimes throughout the
entire coarse of healing, it is better to use ice. Ice is indicated initially
to decrease and prevent swelling, pain, muscle spasm and inflammation
of the injured area. If ice seems to be controlling the symptoms it can
be continued throughout the entire healing process. Ice can be applied
in the forms of cubes in a plastic bag, ice water in a bucket (best for
the foot or hand), a bag of frozen vegetables or a frozen mixture of rubbing
alcohol to water (1:3 ratio) in a zip lock bag (this creates a pliable
cold compress).
Cold treatments can be applied for 15-20minutes several times a day as
needed. Remember that with either heat or cold you can cause burned or
frostbitten skin so it is best to place a barrier (towel, pillow case
etc.) between the heat or cold and your skin. With all injuries you should
contact your physician for formal and appropriate care.
Problem Solved
Problem: Checking fluid levels, washing tractor/combine windows, etc.
for a person with mobility impairment.
Solution: This platform with steps allows a farmer to climb to the top
of the platform and hold onto the rails. The platform is easy to move
because it is on wheels. Once a person climbs onto the steps, their body
weight forces the platform's legs beyond the wheels and in contact with
the floor, creating a stable base. A PA farmer talked to a welding shop
about constructing a platform, but this commercial platform was available
at a reasonable price from P.W. Powell in Texas.
Platforms by P.W. Powell Co., PO Box 3220 Pearland, TX 77588 - Phone:
1-800-231-9936
From the Directors' Desk ... "WHY NOT"
As we work with those who have been injured and wish to remain active
in agriculture, we discover many interesting and innovative ways to complete
the most simple and most difficult of tasks. The skid steer loader is
a fairly simple tool used on many farms but operational parameters and
controls are as variable as a litter of cats. The lift and bucket controls
and the steering controls are specific to the manufacturers' machine and
normally require full operator manual dexterity. This doesn't include
the effort it takes to enter and exit most machines. In researching the
operation of the loaders and in making inquires to the manufacturers we
have found one comparable machine that allow entrance from the side of
the machine which makes for easier entrance to the operator compartment.
We have also been asking questions of several manufacturers as to "Why
Not" a simpler electro-hydraulic control to steer and control the
lift and bucket functions. Would not a "joystick" be possible
for operating the controls that would be either right or left handed?
To date most answers have been, "we are working on it". If anyone
out there has done or seen this type of control used on a skid steer loader,
please contact any member of the AgrAbility team.
If you are talking to a manufacturer please ask them the question, "Why
Not". I plan to continue to ask the manufacturers and to search the
literature because the technology is out there but it has not yet been
demanded strongly enough to be made readily available.
Dr. Jim Hilton, Project Co-Director
Assistive Technology Spotlight
There are many tractors in use today with seats that provide very little
support for a farmer's back. Some replacement tractor seats have been
designed with suspension systems, adjustable lumbar support, and arm rests.
These features on a tractor seat help to reduce the strain on a farmer
with a back injury while he/she operates the tractor. The above seat is
an example of a replacement tractor seat through Case - IH.
For more information about replacement tractor seats or other types of
farm modifications, please contact George Dills, AgrAbility Project Assistant
at (814) 863 - 7868.
For more information about
AgrAbility for Pennsylvanians or to share any ideas about articles for
future editions, please contact either Linda or David.
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The Pennsylvania
State University
Dept. of Agricultural and Extension Education
433 Agricultural Administration Building
University Park, PA 16802
Connie D. Baggett
– AgrAbility Project Director – (814) 863-7415
Linda Fetzer – AgrAbility Project Assistant – (814) 863-7490
Phone: 814-863-7490
Fax: 814-863-4753
Email: lmf8@psu.edu
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Easter Seals
Central Pennsylvania
1300 S. Allen Street
State College, PA 16801
Jeanne Hanlin
– Easter Seals Central Pennsylvania CEO – (814) 944-5014
David Troutman – AgrAbility Case Manager - 814-238-4434 (Voice/TTY)
Phone: 814-238-4434
Fax: 814-238-3721
Email: DTROUTMAN@homenursingagency.com
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