A young girl is in a serious condition at University Hospital Galway (UHG) following a farm accident in Dunmore, Co. Galway yesterday (Tuesday) evening.
A Garda spokesperson said that the girl was airlifted to hospital following the accident. It is believed she is eight years old.
The spokesperson said that the girl was injured in an incident involving a tractor before six o’clock in the evening.
The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) advises that a safe and secure play area for children should be provided away from all work activities, in full view of the dwelling house.
Where children are not in a secure play area, it says that a high level of adult supervision must be provided.
Some 33% of fatal farm accidents involving children were caused by tractors and 44% were involving machinery; over three-quarters of all fatal accidents involving children were caused by a moving vehicle.
According to the HSA, on average between 2006 and 2015, two or three children were killed in farm accidents every year. The main causes of child fatal accidents are tractors/ machinery and drowning.
It says that under no circumstances should a child under seven years of age be carried inside the cab of a tractor. This is irrespective of whether a passenger seat is provided or not.