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Course teaches grain entrapment rescue

A volunteer will be submerged in grain up to their waist on Apr. 20, but fear not; they’ll be in no real danger. They’ll be part of an event meant to raise awareness of grain entrapment rescue procedures.
Grain

A volunteer will be submerged in grain up to their waist on Apr. 20, but fear not; they’ll be in no real danger. They’ll be part of an event meant to raise awareness of grain entrapment rescue procedures.

A grain entrapment simulation is being held on Friday, Apr. 20, at the Merv Moore Sportsplex in Melville. The simulation will be held at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA), Parkland College, and the City of Melville are hosting the event, which is open to the public.

“We’re hoping for a big turnout,” said Darrell Landels, a Business and Training Representative with Parkland College. Landels has been a big force in organizing and promoting the upcoming event.

“CASA approached Parkland College and asked if we would be interested in their initiative,” he said.

The simulation is part of CASA’s BeGrainSafe program, which began in Manitoba last year. The event travels western Canada, educating people about the dangers of grain entrapment and how victims, bystanders, and rescue workers should respond when someone becomes stuck in grain.

Bobbi Kiesman, the Agricultural Safety and Health Specialist with CASA, said the BeGrainSafe program was inspired by accident trends. CASA analyzes farm injury data and they discovered grain entrapment creates a significant risk for Canadians. They designed the simulation and education program to guide people through this perilous situation.

CASA brings a simulator trailer to the event, which allows them to replicate a grain entrapment scenario. A volunteer is lowered into the grain, with special precautions to ensure their safety.

“[They’re] not in harm’s way,” Kiesman said.

Firefighters save the volunteer with rescue augers and other devices, walking the audiences step-by-step through their process.

“It’s a great program,” Kiesman said.

CASA will also debut their Train the Trainer program in Melville. The course has been taught in other provinces, but it will appear in Saskatchewan for the first time this week.

The program involves professional firefighters training volunteer firefighters from across the province in how to handle grain entrapment rescue situations. The students will be able to return to their home towns and train their fellow volunteers.

“We’re really excited,” Kiesman said.

Darrell Landels thinks the education program ensures participants will have a better chance to save people trapped in grain.

“Having a grain rescue plan gives [people] confidence,” he said.