Pre-Survey Letter (draft)

Dear [insert farm operator name]:

In 2004, 27,590 injuries and 100 deaths occurred to youth less than 20 years of age on farms and ranches in the US. For that same year, 80,300 lost work time injuries and 464 deaths occurred to adults over the age of 19 while working on farms and ranches in the US. To better understand the causes of these injuries, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), an agency with the United States Department of Agriculture, are conducting a survey to collect information on injuries to youth that occurred on farms or ranches during 2006.

The goals of this survey are to: estimate the number of youth injuries occurring on farms or ranches in the US in 2008; estimate the number of adult work-related injuries occurring on farms or ranches in the US in 2008; and to document the type of events that lead to these injuries. The enclosed brochures show some of the results from a similar survey for youth and adult farm injuries that occurred in 2004. The summary statistics from this new survey will be used by such groups as the USDA Extension Service and health organizations to develop programs and educational materials aimed at preventing on-farm youth injuries in the future. Your cooperation is needed to develop this database and the resulting summary statistics.

NASS will begin calling on February ##, 2009 from one of their state field offices. They will identify themselves as the Agricultural Statistics Service. Your cooperation is voluntary, but be assured that all information collected will be kept strictly confidential. All information identifying your operation will be removed before a database is presented to CDC.

For more information, call John Gibbons (202) 720-6203 or Scott Cox (202) 720-4028 with NASS; or Michael Goldcamp (304) 285-5951 with CDC if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,