#115: Farm Accidents, Family, and Being Ready for the Unthinkable
“ I think the biggest thing is just starting that conversation and thinking about it and like coming up with a plan that works for you and your family, and that's gonna look different for everybody based on how old your kids are, how much you trust your kids.”
On today’s episode of the Farming on Purpose Podcast, I had the chance to talk with someone who’s seen both sides of the farm accident conversation—Katie Hammock. She’s not just a dairy farmer’s wife and mom of a toddler, she’s also an ER nurse at a level one trauma center in Virginia, where she sees agricultural injuries more often than any of us would like to imagine.
This conversation stuck with me. It wasn’t easy to have—but it was necessary.
Katie didn’t grow up in agriculture. She was a city girl from Ottawa, Canada who found herself living the rural life after meeting her husband in college. Now they milk around 900 cows and farm 1,000 acres for corn silage. Like many of us, she’s learned to adapt to things like long drives for groceries and mile long lists of errands when you do make it to town—and she wouldn’t trade it for anything.
But working full-time as a nurse in a major trauma center has given her a perspective that most of us never see. And when she started noticing how often farm-related injuries came through the ER doors, it sparked something in her. What if we could be better prepared when the unthinkable happens?
What Actually Happens in the ER After a Farm Accident?
Katie shared what it’s like when someone with a serious injury is brought in. Whether it’s by ambulance or helicopter—or even dropped off by someone trying to help—the trauma team jumps into action. There can be 10 to 15 people around a patient, all trained for worst-case scenarios.
It’s fast, it’s intense, and often, it’s a matter of minutes between life and death. That’s why Katie is passionate about what we can do before we ever make it to the ER.
The Most Common Farm Injuries
Some of what Katie listed wasn’t surprising—PTO entanglements, falls off equipment, and chainsaw accidents. But others hit a little harder: electrocution from hitting power lines, people being run over by mowers or bush hogs, and even accidental gunshot wounds.
She reminded me that farm accidents aren’t rare—and they’re not just something that happens to “other people.” The tools and machinery we use every day are powerful. And when they go wrong, they go wrong fast.
Five Things Katie Says Every Farmer Should Have on Hand
Katie talked us through the top five tools that can help save a life when something goes wrong:
Tourniquet – For serious bleeding on arms or legs. It’s not comfortable, but it works, and it can be the difference between life and death.
QuickClot or Gauze – Stops bleeding quickly. Can be used in places where a tourniquet won’t work—like your abdomen or head.
Coban or Vet Wrap – Wraps and secures wounds while you wait for help or travel.
Whistle – Sounds simple, but if you’re stuck or hurt without cell service, a whistle can call attention.
CPR Shield – So you can safely give breaths if someone stops breathing.
What struck me most is that all five of these things could fit in a Ziploc bag. They aren’t expensive. They aren’t complicated. But they can be life-saving.
Katie has created full kits you can buy—one for the cab of your tractor and another for the farm shop. You can find them at www.thedairywife.com.
Preparing When You Have Kids With You
I asked Katie something I’ve thought about often: What do you do when there’s an emergency and your kids are with you?
It’s a layer of stress that most non-farm folks don’t think about. Katie’s advice was to have a plan—maybe it’s dropping the kids with a neighbor or family member, or teaching older kids what to grab and how to call for help.
If your kids are too young to stay put, like her two-year-old, the plan might just be to keep it simple and act fast. But even thinking through it ahead of time gives you an edge.
Teaching Kids About Safety Without Creating Fear
This one really hit home for me. On our place, we expect fast obedience—not because we’re trying to be strict, but because “no” needs to mean “stop right now.” On a farm, there’s not always time to explain why.
Katie and I talked about how to explain danger to kids without scaring them. It’s a balance. One that we won’t always get right the first time. But we can keep trying. These conversations don’t have to be one-and-done.
What If You Don’t Have the Right Tools?
If you don’t have a tourniquet handy, you can still help. Katie mentioned using a belt, a ratchet strap, or even twisting a cloth with sticks to reduce blood flow. It’s not ideal—but it’s better than nothing. In a crisis, using what you have might be what keeps someone alive until help arrives.
Don’t Forget the Aftermath
This part doesn’t get talked about enough. When someone has a serious injury, the physical healing is only part of the recovery. Mental health matters too—for the person who got hurt and the family members who witnessed it.
Katie’s seen how trauma sticks with people. Sometimes the hardest part is watching your spouse or kid do more work while you sit on the sidelines. Or the guilt that comes when a moment of carelessness leads to a serious outcome.
We have to make space for that part too. And we can’t forget: asking for help—physical or mental—is not weakness. It’s strength.
Farming on Purpose Means Being Ready for the Unexpected
The farm has to keep running—but we can’t do it alone. Preparing now, even if it feels uncomfortable, is one of the most loving things we can do for our family, our kids, and our communities.
You can find the safety kits Katie talked about at www.thedairywife.com, and you can follow her on Instagram @thedairywife for more tips and insight from someone who truly understands both sides of this world.
Let’s keep showing up for each other—prepared, informed, and grounded in the real work that makes rural life worth living.
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About the Host of Farming On Purpose, Lexi Wright:
I’m your host, Lexi Wright. I started the Farming on Purpose Podcast from a passion for sharing the future of production agriculture.
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