Summer is winding down and the season ahead includes so much activity, it can be easy to forget the ABCs of safety, whether you’re harvesting or heading to school and fall activities.

Here are some good reminders for this sometimes-demanding season of transition.

At back-to-school time, safety on or near the road is a great place to start, and the reminder SAFE can help kids who are riding the bus:

Stay five big steps away from the curb or edge of roadway – that’s about 10 feet.

•Always hold still until the bus completes its stop. Don’t move until the driver signals you.

•Face to the front of the bus while riding and stay in your seat.

•Exit the bus only after it completely stops, and make sure to look left-right-left before you cross any road or intersection.

These simple steps, recommended by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, can make sure getting to and from school is always a safe trip. A sad reminder is about 20 kids, on average, die each year in accidents that involve getting on and off the bus.

On the farm or ranch, getting the work done is important, but being alert and patient can prevent accidents. On the road, make sure lights and reflectors on farm machinery are in working order. Know your route and anticipate obstacles like power lines. Make sure you’re aware of the location of every member of your team at all times.

Farming is not just hard work – it can be dangerous. Slowing down enough to observe safety precautions can help reduce injuries and deaths, which amount to around 450 each year in our country. Ensure your vehicles have rollover protection in place, and always get plenty of rest.

In our information age, distractions can pop up in a second. One potential cause of accidents is likely in your hand or pocket right now. Phones keep us connected or ensure we’re up to date on the forecast. But distracted driving or working can lead to accidents we’d take back in a moment if we could. It’s best to put your device away and only use it when your attention is not in demand elsewhere.

At times, mental health can be at the root of unsafe situations.

•Depression and anxiety can result in lack of sleep or worries that cloud judgment.

•When left untreated, these problems build up and can lead to breakdowns that cause accidents during driving, be it a car or a combine.

•Mental health conditions can go hand in hand with substance abuse and addiction, especially if someone is seeking to mask or self-medicate their pain.

•Another risk we don’t like to think about is that of self-harm and suicide.

•Resources can help you or a loved one treat and overcome a behavioral health condition; seek professional help in any case that leads you to worry about a family member and their mood, disposition or attitude.

Unlike physical conditions or injuries, mental health conditions may take longer to recognize or treat. But they are just as serious. Ag producers may have specific worries such as weather, reduced yields, high expenses and more. If you need help, calling the Farm and Rural Stress Hotline at 800-691-4336 is a good place to start.

Fall is a busy time, but also a season to savor and enjoy. We wish all our friends and neighbors in agriculture a safe and successful harvest.

Debbie Streier, Regional President/CEO, Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center