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Emergency crews train for potential agricultural accidents
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Published: June 18, 2009
With a large number of agricultural operations in the area, emergency crews in Iredell County can count on pulling an injured farmer from a silo or out from under a tractor at some point.
To be better prepared for this possibility, about 20 emergency personnel, from Trinity Fire Department and the Iredell County Rescue Squad, dedicated a weekend to learning about agricultural incidents.
Trinity Assistant Chief Chris Goforth said the normally week-long class was packed into a weekend.
"It was pretty intense," Goforth said.
The class began with instruction on Friday night, and carried over into Saturday. Goforth said the class ran well into the night, with a short break for meals.
After an all-day session on Sunday, the 20 participants emerged with a new certification.
Josh Starnes, a retired captain with the Hickory Fire Department and one of the two instructors, said the class covers all aspects of agricultural accidents, from overturned tractors to grain bin rescues to dealing with pesticides.
As part of the course, the students and instructors toured McLain Farms to see many of the pieces of equipment and other necessities of running an agricultural operation first-hand.
Jeff Cheek, president of the board of directors at Trinity, expressed appreciation to Phil McLain for opening up his farm to the class and for helping the students learn about the various pieces of machinery.
"That was very beneficial," Cheek said.
Starnes said the course is designed to be hands-on with the students rescuing "victims" from underneath tractors and from inside silos.
"We teach them how to gain access and how to do it safely," he said.
Starnes said rescuing a person from underneath a tractor is a different ballgame from cutting someone out of a wrecked car.
"There's the difference in weight and there's not a lot of room for placement of equipment like in a car," he said.
A car, he said, is a low-profile vehicle, riding close to the ground, while a tractor has a higher profile.
Also, he said, an overturned tractor will leak large amounts of a variety of fluids, and emergency crews need to know how to properly operate extrication equipment.
Starnes said the size of a tractor can also be overwhelming, especially for rescue personnel not familiar with farm equipment.
Goforth said he and others who took part in the class definitely feel they are more prepared to deal with agricultural incidents.
"I have a better understanding of what we need to do if something happens," he said.
Goforth, who has responded to overturned tractors and other farm-related accidents over the years, said he emerged with a new respect for tractors.
"There's no cutting a tractor," he said.
Cheek said the students who took part in the intensive course should be commended, both for giving up their weekend and for their dedication.
"In an area that has a lot of farming and agricultural operations, there is a need for this class and having people qualified for these type of rescues," he said.
Cheek said the need for this type of class is brought to light many times during the year in Iredell County.
Just a day after the class ended, a farmer was trapped in his silo for about an hour. He emerged without injuries, but these type incidents can easily be deadly, Cheek said.
Other news
The Trinity Volunteer Fire Department received two grants to help buy equipment. The department received a North Carolina Forestry Service grant of $1,170 to purchase 15 sets of forestry coveralls.
The department also received $14,020 from the North Carolina Office of the State Fire Marshal, and that money will be used to buy eight full sets of turnout gear and equipment.
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