Through a close partnership with Nationwide, he’s been able to deliver what he saw lacking when he first started fighting fires and saving lives.
The following information is provided by Nationwide, the No. 1 farm and ranch insurer in the U.S.*
Dan Neenan became a volunteer firefighter in 1991 and quickly saw something that would become a huge part of his career. First responders in small towns like his often didn’t have the training and equipment they needed to save lives on the farm.
So he set out to change that. Now more than 30 years later, Neenan is a paramedic specialist and firefighter II with the Epworth and Centralia/Peosta, Iowa, fire departments. He’s also the director of the National Educational Center for Ag Safety. And through a close partnership with Nationwide, he’s been able to deliver what he saw lacking when he first started fighting fires and saving lives.
“There are very few responders available for a fire, medical or agricultural emergency that can happen in and around our rural communities,” said Neenan, who joined the NECAS staff in 2000. “We started by developing safety and rescue programs that are agriculturally based.”
A huge part of Neenan’s work at NECAS is providing training for rural firefighters and farmers. Much of his instruction is hands-on and involves simulating some of the most hazardous working conditions and settings on and around farms like:
“We develop hands-on training programs. Farmers and firefighters are alike in that they don’t want to sit and listen to somebody talk for 8 hours,” Neenan said. “They want to go out and get their hands dirty. And do something.
In the almost 20 years since beginning these programs and simulators, Neenan said it’s not always easy to gauge his success. But with around 10,000 first responders having completed training, it’s clear he’s leading a team that’s making a big difference. And saving lives.
“From the safety side, it’s really hard to count an incident that didn’t happen,” he said. “From the rescue side, it’s a different story. Thirty-two departments have completed our grain bin safety training and have gone on to rescue someone in a bin.”
Neenan has led lifesaving efforts. But he’s quick to point out he’s no hero. To him, he’s just one member of a larger team — including Nationwide — who has made a lifesaving difference in farm towns around the country.
The team aspect of the NECAS work Neenan leads is the biggest reason for its success. It’s not unlike what makes rural firefighters so good at what they do.
“If you look at the partnership we have with Nationwide and all the partners who have come together to donate or help make something like Grain Bin Safety Week happen, do I play a part in it? Yes. Am I the only reason? I don’t think so,” Neenan said. “It takes a team to do that. Just like a fire department.”
Visit AgInsightCenter.com for expert tips and information from Nationwide for your farm or ranch.
The Millers lost their house and barn to a tornado. The community and Nationwide have helped them begin to bounce back.
Read More
Ransomware is one type of attack that can prove particularly costly — but there are ways you can help prevent ransomware attacks.
Read More
To help the agricultural industry meet the ever-changing concerns of its stakeholders when it comes to climate, Nationwide and The Ohio State University have collaborated to form the AgTech Innovation Hub.
Read More
Wilber-Price Insurance Group, Ltd. is an insurance and financial services firm located in southern Ohio. It has locations in Chillicothe…
Read More
Scioto County Farm Bureau set up a membership table at the Scioto County Fair to talk with members and non-members…
Read More
Hamilton Insurance Agency was started in 1990 by Virgil Hamilton after graduating from Ohio University with a degree in finance….
Read More
For 80 years, Gerber Insurance has served southern Ohio, particularly Pike and Ross counties, with excellent insurance and financial services….
Read More
Learn about the new Trimble Tech Labs coming to Ohio State, get tips to manage the risks of switching crops on the farm and get an update from Ohio Farm Bureau’s Young Ag Professionals.
Read More
Ohio Farm Bureau, in a partnership with Nationwide, has released a first-of-its-kind ‘Labor Intelligence Report’ and ‘Guide to Finding, Hiring and Retaining Farm Employees’ through their new Ag Intelligence Service.
Read More
The right machinery replacement strategy can help ensure you’ve got what you need to continue to evolve your business well into the future.
Read More
