Scenes from Lowell: LAFD Agriculture Machinery Rescue Training

Fire Chief Ron van Overbeek has had a focus on training for the Lowell Area Fire Department since taking over the role of chief almost one year ago.  In February ice rescue training was offered and earlier this month the department had the opportunity to train with live burns.  This past Saturday and Sunday the Lowell Area Fire Department along with other area departments had the opportunity to have classroom and hands-on training as a first responder to an agriculture rescue.

Captain Shannon Witherell served as the course coordinator and Mark Cleveland, Fire Chief in Egelston Township near Muskegon and Thea Dornbush of Professional Emergency Services Training both lead the weekend training.  After a day of classroom work the class of about 25 from Lowell and other nearby departments went to Blough Farm to look at where practical training would take place the following day.

Rotations through three scenarios took place this past Sunday.  Carlton Blough donated the use of a portion of his farm and some equipment for the training.  One piece of equipment was also donated from a resident in Alto.  Extraction and rescue was the focus at each station.  Training took place in a grain silo, with a the front of a combine, and with an overturned tractor.

Captain Witherell explained with the pound per square inch of pressure a person would feel once a person is up to is or her knees it would be difficult to get free if stuck in the grain.  He continued on to say the medium is similar to quicksand in that moving around merely makes things worse.  Belding Fire Department brough their aerial equipment for use in this portion of the train.

At the grain entrapment station members of a team climbed the side of a silo and into the grain to see what it would feel like and what should be done if someone was trapped.

Working with grain harvesting equipment groups learned how to perform a rescue if someone were to become stuck in the machinery.

Working together heavy pieces must be move and in some cases sawed through in order to save someone.  While the life of the person is the number one priority, departments also understand farmers would like to save equipment when possible from total destruction.

Chief van Overbeek and Lieutenant Cory Velzen explain how the training they’re doing will help them in the event they have a real emergency.

Finally, in a simulation where a person is stuck under a tractor, teams had to work together to figure out how to work together.

The team with Captain Witherell used wooden blocks, a winch, and jack-like devices to keep the tractor from moving and twisting and to lift the equipment off of the test dummy.

Another team, which included Chief van Overbeek and Lietennant Velzen used two winch straps tied in a different location to stabilize the tractor.

 

After completing the two-day course participants received a certificate indicating participation.  This agricultural rescue training allowed students to ask questions and learn what does and does not work.   Dornbush says, “You don’t fail in training.”  This is the opportunity to learn in as close to a real life emergency possible.  Dornbush challenged teams as they worked to rescue someone trapped under a tractor.

She spoke about using various tools found on a fire truck during the rescue.  In a real life emergency a wrecker could potentially be called in to lift the heavy equipment.  But having experience in the event one is not available or the terrain will not allow access is what will potentially save a life.

Carlton Blough sits on the Fire Authority Board and was happy to host the training.  “Someday that could be me they’re rescuing.” he contemplates.  He wants to give first responders the ability to train so they have the ability to work faster in a real rescue situation.

The Lowell Area Fire Department continues frequent training in order to better serve the community.  For more photos from this training session you can visit our Flickr album.

 

 

 

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