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Students from Lake Area Tech’s agricultural had a chance to learn grain-bin safety and rescue procedures on Thursday, March 13. Agtegra Cooperative’s Technical Response Team visited campus with its grain entrapment simulator.
Members of Agtegra’s Technical Response Team work to remove a volunteer. Photo by Brandon Heim, Watertown Current.
The simulator utilizes real corn to create the environment of a grain bin suction accident, and volunteer participants are lowered into the bin. Just as would happen in a real incident, rescue efforts are then initiated to stabilize and remove the victim. A series of metal plates are placed around the victim to hold back the grain. An auger powered by an electric drill is then utilized to remove the grain surrounding the victim. A ladder on the interior of the plates then allows the person to climb to safety.
In addition to explaining and demonstrating the rescue, TRT members also explained best practices for entrapment victims.
Tristan Gosch prepares to be rescued in the simulation. Photo by Brandon Heim, Watertown Current.
Sam McCloud of Agtegra’s Lebanon branch said the simulator often visits agricultural events, such as fairs, and comes to LATC every spring. The training is also given every year at the State Fire School. McCloud said that the Technical Response Team can be deployed anywhere, regardless of affiliation with Agtegra, at the request of a responding emergency agency. However, McCloud explained that most fire departments have the equipment and many volunteer firemen either work for Agtegra or have already gone through the training. Because of this, the response team is not called out very often, and McCloud said it can vary by the year.
The students enjoyed the experience, with many volunteering to be “rescued” by the team. LATC ag instructors also expressed their gratitude to Agtegra for giving the students a hands-on learning experience.
