Farm safety offered to FFA by Holton Fire

Farm Safety is very important to the community. The agricultural region remains one of the most dangerous industries around. Dale Comer, First Captain of the Holton Fire Dept. has been going to FFA banquets for almost four years and told the Osgood Journal, “As I sat and watched these students sitting and tabling ideas on how to improve business and surrounded by neighboring farmers I asked Advisor Jessica (Menchhofer) Lovell if she had ever done anything with the fire department with educating students on farm safety.”

Comer’s goal was to do something in outreach for the community. He told the Osgood Journal that the amount of support that the community gives to the fire department, he wanted to be able to have Holton Fire give back by offering First aid, stop the bleed and safety classes for everyone in the near future. The end goal is to get the community more involved and for the fire department to be able to get the word out there more on farm safety. “For now, we can impact local FFA students throughout the local schools. We hope to grow and that more schools will join in on this educational program to benefit any student that may be out there someday when an emergency happens and be able to help while also know the 911 activation in any situation needed,” stated Comer.

After discussion and gathering criteria to make a class, Comer made it possible for this to happen last September for Holton Fire to hold the first safety class for FFA members. Purdue University has been a huge asset for giving the material for teaching by suppling the fire department PowerPoint presentations for farm and safety. Other farming organizations and businesses have been asked to join to make these classes a success. Last September, Keith Everhart, of Laughery Valley Ag Co-Op, came and demonstrated situations with ammonia and propane leaks. Important information was given for an emergency at home or on the farm. Comer’s first class focused more on tractors, codes on equipment and trailer components.

On Friday, March 14, the Holton Fire Dept. held their second class on farm safety for the South Ripley FFA members for a fun yet educational day. The class was set up to show different aspects on how to handle different scenarios in emergency situations and to teach students more about farming components. Comer expanded on safety issues on what to do in an emergency.

Fires happen but not a lot of victims know how or can control a fire until a fire department can arrive. The students were taught about the different fires A, B, and C. Everyone should know that a fire extinguisher is often used, but not for all fires should someone use one. Comer taught when to use different equipment, and explaining the danger of why it is important to learn the basics of extinguishing a fire.

In farming a lot of common materials used such as shop towels, aerosol cans, brake cleaners or other cleaners are very combustible and sometimes can cause a small fire to take off quickly. Type A fires are woods, papers and rubbers. Type B fires are boiling, gasoline diesel and oils. Type C is conductivity fires, such as electrical. The students also learned about the fire triangle-Heat, Full, and Oxygen. They were taught how fires may be controlled by eliminating one of these components from the triangle. The PASS process was also taught to the students, which is Pull, Aim, Squeeze and Sweep-the process of steps in using an extinguisher. It is very important to know those steps for a fire situation.

Heath Comer, Recorder for South Ripley FFA told the Osgood Journal, “This safety class would be beneficial to everyone in the community. Safety for everyone, so they would know what to do and how to help until someone in an emergency event can get a squad there.” Heath is also a part of the Holton Fire Dept. as a cadet firefighter.

As class proceeded, Comer (Dale) went over the Stop the Bleed. Many farming injuries happen, and everyone may not have access right away to a squad, especially if they are farming in the fields. He instructed the students on the steps of a bleed. He taught them difference in bleeds. This is beneficial to know especially when calling for help you can give 911 exact description of what is happening. He showed them pooling meaning a vein wound, and squirting would be an artery wound. Comer showed them how to dress, pressure and at times they may have to use a tourniquet. He briefly went over life over limbs when that decision may have to be made in life or death situations. Not something anyone wants to think about but better to know than not to know in a traumatic situation.

The Osgood Journal asked Heath what his favorite part of the class was and he stated, “Stop the Bleed, because you won’t have the right way emergency assistance and can know how to stop or help in the accident.” First aid techniques were also discussed during class, giving students knowledge of how to recognize shock, frostbite, hypothermia, hyperthermia, heat exhaustion, strokes and basic CPR.

Tony Wood and Bev Lovell, of the 811, came out to speak on Friday about where to dig before building any farming buildings, fences, etc. They showed the students the proper ticket to have filled and how to determine what utilities are suspected in the area up for digging. Comer stated to the Osgood Journal, “We wanted these kids to get the knowledge and recognize the potential hazards that they could get the 911 activation going in an event of any type of an emergency.” It is so important, especially in farming to know your surroundings. Details are very important on the 911 call.

Don Comer, Tom Menchhoffer and Darren Speers, local farmers of the community supplied pork burgers for the lunch for the day. Donald Comer, of Comer’s Carpet Plus made his homemade mac and cheese. Holton Fire fried the pork burgers and provided the chips and drinks for everyone.

Concluding with the Osgood Journal Dale Comer stated, “We want to make an impact on the kids and how to handle emergency situations, and first and foremost the 911 system activation. We look forward to Sept. 12 FFA Farm Safety Day and hope to see more local schools come out and enjoy this great program!”