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As part of our efforts to raise awareness of farm safety and equip firefighters and other emergency personnel with the proper tools and training to help save lives, Ashtabula County Farm Bureau partnered with the Mark Bruns Agency and Nationwide to launch our second Grain Bin Rescue Grant contest in Ashtabula County.  Trumbull County Farm Bureau also held the contest in Trumbull County with Daprile Insurance Agency and Nationwide.

In August, Ashtabula County Farm Bureau announced the winners of the two-grain bin safety rescue sets and training on utilizing the equipment in a rescue situation. The training and equipment are valued at over $7,000.

 This year’s recipients were Rome Fire and Windsor Fire. This training was for those emergency responders and included classroom and hands-on training by Nationwide.

Trumbull County Farm Bureau held its training at Heritage Hill Farms with the Ohio Fire Academy and The Ohio State University.  In October, the Trumbull County Farm Bureau presented the Great Wall of Rescue Grain Bin Rescue equipment valued at $5,000 to Brookfield Fire Department.  Watch WKBN’s video on the importance of this equipment.

Agriculture is a major industry in Ashtabula and Trumbull counties, and grain bins are an essential aspect of that. Here are some interesting facts from our partners at Nationwide Agribusiness regarding injuries and fatalities surrounding grain bins:

• Suffocation from engulfment or oxygen-deficient atmospheres is the leading cause of death in grain accidents.
• In four seconds, an adult can sink knee-deep in flowing grain and be rendered unable to free themselves without help.
• Nearly 400 grain entrapments have been recorded in the past 10 years. It’s estimated an additional 30% of cases go unreported.
• In 2019, there were 38 grain entrapment cases — a 27% increase over 2018 and a four-year high.
• Grain entrapment deaths spiked in late 2019 and early 2020 as a result of wet harvest conditions — a United Press International report showed there were 19 deaths from August 2019 to mid-January 2020 alone, more than all of 2018.
• Historically, 70% of grain entrapments have occurred on farms vs. commercial facilities.
• Many of these farming accidents involve young people who often lack a good understanding of the potential dangers and proper safety procedures.

“Our county Farm Bureaus strongly believe in protecting the future of agriculture, and an essential part of that is ensuring that our farmers are protected,” said Mandy Orahood, Ohiuo Farm Bureau organization director serving Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake, and Trumbull County Farm Bureaus. “In working with emergency personnel, Farm Bureau was made aware of the lack of rural and farm safety training that they receive.  We have made it our goal to ensure that our emergency personnel have the tools, the knowledge, and the resources they need to protect our farming community.”

Learn more about Grain Bin Safety.