Local organizations to host farm rescue training program
For Hub City Times
MARSHFIELD – Emergency responders face unique, high-risk challenges on farms, including toxic atmospheres, enclosed spaces, managing animals under stress and machinery entrapments. That’s why the National Farm Medicine Center of Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, in partnership with Pittsville Fire and Life Link 3 Air Medical Transport, are hosting the Agricultural Rescue Training program, May 8-9, in Marshfield.
“The program is designed for emergency medical technicians and rescue personnel to supplement basic emergency training,” said Pittsville Fire Chief Jerry Minor. “We’ll use some specific farm-incident situations, while providing ‘take-home-and-use’ information.”
Soon after its establishment in 1981, the National Farm Medicine Center initiated farm rescue training for firefighters and other emergency responders. During the next two decades, more than 1,400 participants from Wisconsin and beyond were trained in rescue techniques specific to agricultural hazards.
In 2020, a new generation is working in the mostly-volunteer fire services of Wisconsin, and fewer of them have farm backgrounds. This is significant, because basic training materials and texts do not provide specific information on dealing with agricultural incidents, Minor said.
Lecture topics covered will include: prevention of farm accidents; emergency management of patients experiencing farm trauma; pediatric trauma on the farm; and case studies and success stories.
Hands-on workshops will cover: farm familiarization; silo rescue; grain bin rescue; tractor rollovers; and equipment extrication.
To register, visit www.agrescue.org. The first 100 applicants will be accepted. A total of 9.5 hours of training will be awarded
For more information about the workshop, contact Chief Minor at [email protected] or Kyle Koshalek at [email protected] or 715-389-3786.