Local fire company getting grain bin rescue training and equipment

MILFORD, Del. – The Carlisle Fire Company in Milford is getting some new training and equipment to help rescue people who have fallen into grain bins or silos. “The grain bin rescue tube is very important to all the farmers in our area,” said Sussex County Women’s Chair for the Delaware Farm Bureau Connie Fox.

Fox says that they’ll be getting a tube to help with rescues, as well as training from Nationwide Insurance. “They’re getting a rescue tube along with all the harnesses and everything that goes along with it. Then Nationwide will be bringing a gentleman in once everything is done so they can have a group and they will teach our fire company – plus some of the surrounding fire companies – how to use it,” said Fox.

Fox tells 47ABC that when people fall into grain bins or silos – the grain acts like sand. “It pushes on you. If you’ve ever laid in the sand and had kids cover your legs up and try to lift them, they’re very heavy. Or if the kids lay down and they put sand on them, they can’t breathe because it’s compressing their air,” said Fox.

Fox says the person trapped inside is quickly swallowed up – and saving their life can be determined by a matter of minutes. “When you have a grain accident there’s usually not more than 20 minutes to a half hour that you need to be on the scene and doing something,” said Fox.

Fox says that at her farm – they don’t have a grain bin or silo. But she says she nominated her local fire company for the training and equipment because of the large number of farmers with grain bins in the area. “Just knowing that there are a number of farmers around in our area that use the mill that have their own – it just makes you think,” said Fox.

Fox tells 47ABC she hops that other fire departments in Delaware will soon get the same training and equipment – to protect farmers all over. “It’s safety all the way around for the rescuers, the fire companies, as well as the farmer or employee that’s trapped,” said Fox.