Louisiana Farm Bureau, LFETA Seeking Locations of Grain Bin Rescue Tubes
Avery J. Davidson
Louisiana Farm Bureau News
The Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation is working with the Louisiana Fire and Emergency Training Academy in compiling the locations of grain bin rescue tubes across the state.
Grain bin rescue tubes are specialized pieces of equipment used by first responders to help safely remove someone trapped by flowing grain inside a grain bin or other grain storage facility. The tubes consist of panels first responders build around the trapped victim. The tube can then be pushed down into the grain to create a barrier between the victim and the grain outside the tube. First responders can then remove the grain from inside the tube either with a portable auger or by having the victim scoop the grain out. Once enough grain is removed, the victim can be safely freed from the grain.
According to Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation Safety Director Wendell Miley, a grain bin rescue tube can cost more than $4,000. While grain bins can be found all over the state of Louisiana, there is not a grain bin rescue tube in every parish.
“Between farm locations, between fire departments, grain facilities, I would say there are 25 to 30 that we know of that are out there,” Miley said. “But we want to find out where they're all located.”
Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation Associate Facilities and Safety Manager Matt Sirgo said it’s important for first responders to know where the closest grain bin rescue tube is located because it can take more than 3 hours to free someone trapped in grain, but if the victim is completely submerged, death can occur in minutes.
“Time is always going to be of the essence, especially in any kind of emergency situation,” Sirgo said. “If they know a grain bin rescue tube is so far out, they can start doing other work in advance.
The Louisiana Fire and Emergency Training Academy set up a survey farmers, first responders and grain facility officials can fill out to give the location of grain bin rescue tubes around the state. Sirgo said the information from that survey would be used to produce a master list to distribute to first responders and farmers across the state so in times of emergency, they know where to find the closest grain bin rescue tube.
“You're always going to fall back to your training when it comes to stress,” Sirgo said. “So, making sure they're well-trained, that the list easily is going to be most important.”
Click here to fill out the survey or scan the QR code below.
