(Le Mars) — In a matter of a few weeks, area farmers will be busy with this year’s harvest. Harvest season usually means long hours with the likelihood of additional farm-related accidents. One particular farm-related accident is grain entrapment when a farmer, child, or other victim
is buried in flowing grain. Grain bins are the most likely place to see this type of farm accident, but it can also occur in grain wagons, grain trucks, or even an outside pile of grain. According to a Purdue University study, Iowa has the most reported grain bin accidents. In 2015, there were seven reported incidents in Iowa with two fatalities. The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department wants to be prepared should they ever need to respond to a gain bin accident. On Wednesday, the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department specifically conducted grain bin rescue training as part of its weekly training seminars. Fire Chief Dave Schipper says now is the time a grain bin accident is most likely to happen, and they want to be ready.
When performing a grain entrapment rescue, firefighters use a series of panels that surround the victim in attempts to keep any additional grain from collapsing.
Schipper says when a victim is caught in a flowing grain entrapment accident, it is nearly impossible to pull that victim out, unless you have proper equipment to assist with the extraction.
The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department performs specific grain bin simulated training at least twice a year. The fire and rescue department conducted its grain rescue at Agri-Center of Le Mars with the help of a semi trailer filled with corn.
