Frankford Vol. Fire Dept. Awarded Resources for Grain Bin Accidents
FRANKFORD, Del. – The Frankford Volunteer Fire Company has been awarded new resources to combat grain bin accidents from the Delaware Farm Bureau through Nationwide’s Grain Bin Safety advocacy campaign.
The company received a grain rescue tube and specialized training, conducted by the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS). Training included simulations of entrapments and rescues using a state-of-the-art grain entrapment simulator, which is able to hold about 100 bushels of grain.
The resources allocated to the fire company will be used to help protect against grain entrapments, which result in dozens of deaths across rural America. Farmers and commercial grain handlers risk their lives each time they enter a grain bin to remove clumped or rotted grain.
“It only takes seconds, or a simple mistake, for an adult to sink in the quicksand-like flow of grain and become fully entrapped or engulfed,” said Brad Liggett, president of Agribusiness at Nationwide. “Adding to the risk is a lack of rescue equipment available to local fire departments and emergency responders who are called for help when a worker becomes trapped.”
To help lead the fight against these accidents impacting agricultural communities, Nationwide began its Grain Bin Safety campaign in 2014 to bring awareness to the hazards of entering grain structures and to equip fire departments with the resources needed to respond effectively. Since its inception, at least 13 successful rescues have utilized these resources, including six successful rescues last year. The Frankford Volunteer Fire Company is one of more than 390 departments to receive the benefits since the genesis of Nationwide’s campaign.
“We’re proud to support our local first responders with tools that can save lives,” said Delaware Farm Bureau President Bill Powers. “Grain bin accidents are real dangers in farming, and this training helps make sure our communities are better prepared.”
To learn more about the campaign, click here.
