Stay safe: Northeast Iowa Community College and ag safety center offering ATV/UTV safety education courses
Monday, January 20, 2020
Dubuque County officials and NECAS strongly encourage all recreational users of ATVs/UTVs who plan to ride on Dubuque County roadways to enroll in the safety courses.
NICC DISTRICT—The National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS), in partnership with Northeast Iowa Community College and Dubuque County, will offer safety education courses this spring for all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and off-road utility vehicle (UTV) riders. There is no cost to training participants, which is made possible through an agreement between NECAS and the county.
The board of supervisors approved a new ordinance last fall that allows recreational ATV/UTV use on county roads. Dubuque County officials and NECAS strongly encourage all recreational users of ATVs/UTVs who plan to ride on Dubuque County roadways to enroll in the safety courses. The interactive trainings will enhance participant understanding of the Dubuque County ATV/UTV ordinance and provide techniques for safe off- or on-road operation of ATVs and UTVs.
The safety courses will be offered from 6-8 p.m. at these locations:
- Dubuque County Emergency Responder Facility March 19
- Epworth Fire Department March 24
- Peosta (NECAS) March 25
- Sherrill Fire Department March 26
- Cascade Fire Department March 31
Additional courses are scheduled through April. To learn more and register visit www.nicc.edu/atv.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that in 2017, there were an estimated 93,800 ATV-related, emergency department-treated injuries and at least 295 ATV-related fatalities in the United States. The goal of the NECAS safety training courses is to inform the public and contribute to the success and safety of the Dubuque County ordinance.
ABOUT NECAS: The National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS) is dedicated to preventing illnesses, injuries, and deaths among farmers and ranchers, agricultural and horticultural workers, their families and their employees. NECAS offers training and rescue programs for a variety of topics and provides webinars to increase awareness for agricultural safety. The center’s trainings and rescue programs have resulted in 19 lives saved nationwide. NECAS is also a partner with Northeast Iowa Community College Business and Community Solutions in providing safety trainings for business and industry, such as hazardous materials training, forklift operator, construction flagger and more. Information about NECAS is available at necasag.org.