4-H Clover Safety Fact Sheets

Clover Safe notes are intended primarily for 4-H volunteers and members nine years and older.

Clover Safety #1 - Rabbits - Tips & Activity
Rabbits belong to the order of mammals called Lagomorpha which also includes hares and pikas. When living in the wild, rabbits spend their time on the ground eating green grasses and leaves and avoiding predators such as hawks and coyotes. Because rabbits are preyed upon by other animals, they have well developed senses of smell, hearing, and long distance sight. Furthermore, rabbits are capable of high speed running and maneuvering to escape predators. Rabbits also are excellent diggers and will burrow out underground homes, called warrens, where they feel
protected and prefer to rest and sleep.

Clover Safety #2 - Sewing - Tips & Activity
Information available from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission indicates a total of approximately 2,700 people were treated in hospitals for sewing machine injuries during 2005. Most of the injuries (60%) were puncture wounds and cuts to fingers. Many of the injuries were caused by operator error or inattention and could have been prevented by understanding how a sewing machine works and maintaining awareness of potential hazards.

Clover Safety #3 - Cattle - Tips & Activity
Information available from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health indicates about 6,000 young people less than 20 years old were injured by animals during 1998. Thirty-one percent of these injuries (more than 1,800) involved cattle. The injuries are frequently due to an animal stepping on, falling onto, squeezing against, or kicking the handler.

Clover Safety #4 - Power Saw - Tips & Activity
Information available from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission indicates more than 12,000 people were treated in hospitals for power saw injuries during 2005. Typical injuries were cuts to fingers and hands and foreign objects striking or being lodged in eyes.

Clover Safety #5 - ATV - Tips & Activity
According to data available from the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, a total of about 50,000 youth aged 18 years and younger were treated in hospitals for all-terrain vehicle injuries during 2005. Broken bones, bruises, and cuts were the most common types of injuries. All-terrain vehicles are regulated by the California Vehicle Code (CVC), Sections 38000 through 38506.

Clover Safety #6 - Horse Work - Tips & Activity
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission data indicate that in 2005 more than 400 youth aged 18 years and younger were treated in hospitals for injuries received while grooming, walking, bridling, or saddling horses. Most injuries occurred when handlers were either kicked or stepped on by horses.

Clover Safety #7 - Horse Riding - Tips & Activity
Information available from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission indicates approximately 22,000 youth aged 18 years and younger were treated in hospitals for horseback riding injuries during 2005. Most injuries occurred when riders either fell or were thrown from horses. Broken bones, bruises, sprains, and concussions were the most common types of injuries. Many of these injuries could have been prevented by being aware of potential hazards and using safe horseback riding practices.

Clover Safety #8 - Turkeys - Tips & Activity
In the wild, turkeys live in flocks where the birds instinctively establish a social hierarchy or “pecking order.” Female turkeys are called hens and males are called toms. Wild turkeys feed on green leaves, seeds, berries, and insects. They are also capable of flying at more than 50 miles per hour for short distances and roost in trees at night. Wild turkeys have longer legs and necks and typically weigh less than domesticated turkeys. Commercial turkeys are not able to fly and mainly fed a diet of corn and soybeans. Federal law prohibits growers to feed growth hormones to
commercial turkeys.

Safety - Fireworks - Tips

Clover Safety #9 - Dogs - Tips & Activity
Dogs were first domesticated more than 10,000 years ago and since that time have become companions to humans. This relationship developed through a fostered process of humane treatment and friendship. Although dogs are companionable, they still may attack and harm humans. Information available from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates about 180,000 children 19 years and younger received emergency room treatment for dog bites during 2001. Approximately 80% of these dog bites were caused by a family or neighbor’s dog and most frequently included bites to arms/hands, legs/feet, and heads/necks.

Clover Safety #10 - Firearms Cleaning - Tips & Activity
Information available from the California Department of Health Services indicates that between 2000 and 2004 an annual average of 10 youth aged 13 to 20 were unintentionally killed by firearms. An annual average of 220 youth suffered unintentional firearm injuries that required hospitalization during the same time period. Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate about 70 percent of the unintentional firearm injuries are self inflicted and involve gunshot wounds to arms, hands, legs, and/or feet. Unintentional firearm injuries or fatalities usually happen while a person is carrying a loaded gun or during the routine cleaning, loading, or unloading of a gun.

Clover Safety #11 - Small Engines - Tips & Activity
Several types of injury risks are associated with repairing and maintaining small engines. Types of injury risks include inhalation of toxic fumes, hand and finger fractures, cuts, and bruises from mechanical impacts, back injuries from improper lifting technique or lifting excessive weight, entanglement injuries from rotating parts, burns from contact with hot surfaces, and electrical shocks from energized systems or components. Most injuries experienced during small engine repair or maintenance are avoidable and frequently due to the mechanic’s inexperience or improper or inattentive work practices.

Clover Safety #12 - Power Drill - Tips & Activity
Information available from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission indicates more than 2,500 people were treated in hospitals for portable power drill injuries during 2005. Typical injuries were cuts and punctures to fingers and hands. The energy source for portable power drills is electrical energy accessed from a wall outlet or stored in a battery. Most portable power drills used in shops or at home are either 3/8-inch or ½-inch which refers to the largest-sized shank that will fit in the drill chuck.

Clover Safety #13 - Emergency Preperation and Response Guide - Tips
Although University of California 4-H YDP activities are planned and conducted to eliminate risk of injury to participants, unforeseen accidents periodically occur whereby injuries are sustained. When an injury occurs, 4-H YDP volunteers and staff need to be prepared to provide an appropriate emergency response to the type and extent of a participant’s injury. This Clover Safe describes how to prepare for and respond to an injury emergency.

Clover Safety #14 - Preventing 4-H Member Injuries and Illness - Tips
The University of California Policy on Health, Safety and the Environment endorses a strategy whereby activities are designed and controls are put in place to reduce or eliminate accidents, trauma, and exposures to members of the university community. Accordingly, this Clover Safe has been developed for the purpose of providing 4-H YDP volunteers and staff with general preventative information for eliminating or reducing member injuries and illnesses that may be sustained during 4-H activities and events.

Clover Safety #15 - Holding and Attending 4-H Meetings and Private Residences - Tips
When a 4-H meeting is held in a private residence, the host and guests each assume roles with attendant responsibilities that contribute to productive, safe, and successful meeting outcomes.

Clover Safety #16 - Safe Animal Conduct at Petting Zoos and Fairs - Tips & Activity
People can acquire diseases from or be physically injured by animals. Information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates 35 human infectious disease outbreaks associated with animals have occurred since 2001. These types of infectious diseases generally affect the intestinal tract and are primarily transmitted by the fecal-oral route. If animal fur, hair, skin, and saliva become contaminated with fecal matter, direct infectious disease transmission can occur when people touch, pet, feed, or are licked by the animal. Diseases may also be transmitted through ingestion of fecal-contaminated dust. Petting zoos and fairs are places where animal-person contact is high and therefore, risk exists for
infectious disease transmission and physical injuries. This Clover Safe presents safe animal contact practices for 4-H participants while at petting zoos or fairs or during other animal handling activities.

Clover Safety #17 - Organizing and Operating a Safe 4-H Petting Zoo Event - Tips
People can acquire diseases from or be physically injured by animals. Because petting zoos are places where animal-human contact is intended to be high, controls must be established to prevent disease transmission and physical injuries. Infectious diseases are primarily transmitted from animals to humans by the fecal-oral route. Animal fur, hair, skin, and/or saliva that is contaminated with infectious fecal matter can be transferred to people when they touch, pet, feed, or are licked by an animal. Ingesting fecal-contaminated dust can also result in transmission of infectious diseases. Humans may be physically injured when bitten, clawed, pecked, butted, or kicked by animals. This Clover Safe describes controls for the prevention of disease transmission or physical injuries at petting zoos.

Clover Safety #18 - Leathercraft - Tips & Activity
Leathercraft or leatherworking activities include the use of techniques and processes such as ornamenting, sewing, cutting, carving, staining, stamping, punching, gluing, and burning leather. 4-H members that participate in leathercraft activities must be knowledgeable about the safe use of sharp and pounding tools, glues and stains, and electric burners. Common injuries sustained during leathercraft activities include cuts, punctures, bruises, burns, and scrapes to the fingers and hands.

Clover Safety #19 - Heat Illness Awareness - Tips & Activity
According to the National Weather Service, an average of 235 heat-related fatalities occurred annually between 1975 and 2004. Moreover, about 25,000 heat-related illnesses or injuries occurred from 1991-2000. Children are at greater risk for heat stress because their bodies have a larger surface area per pound of weight. Youth that are vigorously exerting themselves in summer heat are at higher risk for contracting heat illness. By taking several simple precautions, people can control and/or reduce exposure to conditions that may cause heat illness.

Clover Safety #20 - General Knife Safety - Tips & Activity
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission data indicate in 2005 more than 80,000 youth aged five to19 years were treated in hospitals for injuries received while using knives. Most injuries occurred to the fingers (64%) followed by hands (20%), forearms (4%), and wrists (2%). Nearly all of the injuries were lacerations with a relatively small number of puncture wounds. Many of the injuries were caused by the knife user being careless or inattentive and could have been prevented by taking several simple precautions.

Clover Safety #21 - Hiking - Tips & Activity
4-H members participate on hikes that take place in terrain ranging from relatively flat land to steep, rugged topography and from wetland to desert conditions. Precautions to prevent injuries vary somewhat depending on the type of terrain and habitat encompassed by the path of the hike.Common injuries that are related to hiking include strains, sprains, cuts, bruises, insect bites, and sunburn. By taking several simple precautions and becoming familiar with the area and path to be hiked, 4-H members can control and/or reduce exposure to conditions that may cause injuries.

Clover Safety #22 - Swine - Tips & Activity
Evidence for wild swine (or pigs) becoming first domesticated occurs in the Middle East and possibly China at about 9,000 years ago. Swine are not native to the United States and were first brought to Florida by Spanish explorers in 1539. Female pigs are called sows if they have produced a litter (usually 8-10 baby pigs called piglets) and gilts if they have not. Male pigs are called boars if they can produce offspring (are fertile) and barrows if they are neutered so they can’t.

Clover Safety #23 - Skateboarding - Tips & Activity
Information available from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission indicates more than 90,000 youth aged five to 19 years were treated in hospitals for skateboarding injuries during 2005. The most frequent injuries were to wrists followed by arms, heads, faces, feet, and hands. Broken bones, bruises, sprains, and lacerations were the most common types of injuries. Many of these injuries could have been prevented by being aware of potential hazards and using safe skateboarding practices.

Clover Safety #24 - Surfing - Tips & Activity
Information available from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission indicates the most common types of wind and water surfing injuries are lacerations, fractures, strains/sprains, and contusions. Surfing injuries are frequently caused by surfers being hit by surfboards or falling off their surfboard and impacting against the sand. Many of these injuries could have been prevented by being aware of potential hazards and using safe wind and water surfing practices.