Grainnet

Aberdeen, SD—Wheat Growers shared its safety knowledge with firefighters and first responders from 24 South Dakota and North Dakota communities during the State Fire School in Aberdeen.

Bill Spreeman, Wheat Growers’ Director of Safety and Environmental Affairs, led the six-hour classroom and on-site Grain Bin Safety Rescue course.

Seven members of the Wheat Growers Technical Rescue Team (TRT) also assisted in the classroom discussions and on-site training exercises.

“We helped firefighters and first responders learn safe and effective ways to free entrapped victims in a way that ensures that the rescuers don’t become trapped too,” Spreeman said.

“This was an excellent opportunity for us to share information about grain engulfment incidents and then provide hands-on training that gave the participants some true-to-life situations and the best, and safest, methods for rescue.”

The classroom sessions were held at Aberdeen Central High School, and the on-site demonstrations were held at the Wheat Growers Feed Store location on the west side of Aberdeen.

Wheat Growers TRT members took the firefighters and first responders through exercises involving grain engulfment, using newly designed rescue tubes that can assist by keeping grain from further engulfing the victim, making their removal safer and more efficient.

They also demonstrated grain bin entry and rescue techniques as well as a demonstration of the power of grain dust explosions.

Firefighters and first responders from Aberdeen, Avon, Brandon, Burke, Canistota, Castlewood, Colome, Colton, Columbia, Gregory, Howard, Jefferson, Lake Preston, Marion, Plankinton, Ramona, Redfield, Stickney, Stratford, Wagner, Wentworth, Winner, Worthing and Lidgerwood, N.D., took part in the Wheat Growers safety courses over a three-day period.

“One of Wheat Growers’ core values is a commitment to a positive safety culture,” Spreeman said.

“This was a great opportunity for us to share some of the key elements of our safety culture with many of the communities we serve as well as other rural communities throughout South and North Dakota.”

For more information, call 605-725-8304.

See Related Websites/Articles:

• South Dakota Wheat Growers

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