Corteva AgriScience Canada is donating equipment that’s expected to help fire departments across the country save farmers’ lives.
The company’s funding will purchase GSI RES-Q-TUBE and Haul-ALL pencil augers for eligible fire departments that have taken part in BeGrainSafe training put on by the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA).
The GSI RES-Q-TUBE is a rescue tube and the pencil auger helps move grain when needed and are considered essential to rescuing someone from a grain bin, an area of increasing farm sector concern.
The BeGrainSafe program includes a mobile demonstration unit and has seen firefighters trained on grain entrapment rescue. Now the organization can supply these fire departments with needed rescue equipment.
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To Darcy Haley, vice-president of Ag Value Brokers in Lethbridge, there are two main reasons for recent increases for feed barley and wheat. Haley said on March 12 that there’s an ongoing lack of farmer selling, plus stiff competition from the grain companies looking to export barley.
Corteva’s support will purchase a GSI RES-Q-TUBE and a Haul-ALL pencil auger for eligible rural fire departments that have taken part in BeGrainSafe training.
The grain rescue tube and portable auger are essential in rescuing a person trapped in grain. When used in combination, the grain rescue tube creates a barrier between the victim and the grain while the auger helps rescuers quickly move the grain away from the potential victim.
“Having a grain rescue tube and a portable auger available to fire departments trained in grain extrication greatly increases the probability of a victim surviving a grain entrapment,” Robert Gobeil, CASA’s agricultural health and safety specialist, said.
“Handling grain is an everyday occurrence in the agriculture industry, meaning unexpected grain incidents can happen at any moment,” said Kris Allen, communications leader for Corteva Agriscience Canada.
“We’re proud to work with CASA on this important initiative that equips rural fire departments with the tools they need to keep Canadian growers and their families safe.”
More information about BeGrainSafe, including firefighter training, is available online. — Glacier FarmMedia Network
