[Childhood accidents caused by farming machines in France. Epidemiology, consequences, prevention]

As part of the actions led by the French Center for Information and Encounters for the Prevention of Childhood Injuries, a recent meeting on childhood injuries caused by farming machinery was held recently. These injuries are not exceptional in view of the steadily diminishing number of children living on farms. They are often severe, with several deaths each year in France and devastating sequelae in other cases. Prevention requires improved safety of these machines to which farmers' children are exposed in their everyday life, as well as information efforts targeted to the highest risk populations, i.e., boys in specific age groups and specific regions. Such a program can be implemented only with the cooperation of involved industries, insurance companies and official agencies, as part of a long-term, decentralized policy.