The West Nipissing Fire and Emergency Service received some unique training this weekend – how to save someone trapped in grain.
Such incidents most often occur in grain silos. A person can fall into the silo on top of the grain and begin sinking into it. Consider the grain a dry quicksand, pulling a person under with each movement. The pressure of the grain against your body makes it difficult to breath, the weight is crushing.
As grain sits within a silo, it releases odourless gas, which overtime can replace the silo’s oxygen. A person can be overwhelmed by these gasses, and be overcome by a lack of oxygen, which can lead to a fall into the grain.
According to the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA), between 2011 and 2020, there were 27 grain entrapment deaths in Canada. The Canadian Agricultural Injury Reporting noted there are on average four entrapments deaths each year.
Madeleine Beaudry, the President of the West Nipissing Sudbury East Federation of Agriculture, wants to prevent those numbers from rising. As president, she has helped to spearhead this training exercise for the firefighters, with some support from other local agencies.
She explained the idea came about from Denis Castonguay, the General Manager at the Co-Op Regionale in Verner. He brought forward the project and contributed financially to offset the cost of training.
West Nipissing Sudbury East Federation of Agriculture also contributed as did the Ontario Federation of Agriculture through its Revive Fund. The money paid for the training, and for specialized equipment to aid in grain rescue. Specifically, there are four large panels, which interlock when placed within the grain. Rescuers can use these to ‘wall in’ a trapped person, which takes the pressure off them. Then they can begin removing the grain within the box to get the person out.
Beaudry said, “We always hope that we never need to use this equipment. But the reality is that if you don’t have it, the chances of being successful in a rescue are slim.”
Most have seen the Co-op Régionale grain silos in Verner while driving along Highway 17, but there are other silos throughout the municipality, and this training and equipment will benefit those farmers as well.
Beaudry emphasized the West Nipissing Sudbury East Federation of Agriculture has been quite active these past years, holding workshops and information sessions, and working to create a stronger presence within communities.
A few years ago, the federation purchased a portable cattle squeeze, used to contain cattle and guide them into trucks for transport. Federation members could rent it, instead of having to buy their own.
Remember those bison that escaped after a storm in Crystal Falls? That portable cattle squeeze was used to capture the roaming bison and allowed them to be returned home, Beaudry said. The bison were young, so they fit well into the round pen and could be guided through the alley exit into a truck.
It took about three days and few silage bales of sweet grass to complete the captures, but in the end the bison returned to their home in Crystal Falls.
Beaudry also mentioned the federation implemented a Farm 911 system within the region. Most 911 addresses are tied to a residential home. However, many farms can be miles from a residence. This Farm 911 system allows a number to be assigned to farm properties, increasing response times from emergency responders.
As of today, there are 44 registered in West Nipissing and 12 in French River. You can tell it’s a Farm 911 address by the yellow sign with black numbers.
The grain rescue training for the firefighters took place in Verner and was led by experts from the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association. An enclosed trailer was brought in to simulate conditions within a silo filled with grain.
Pascal Morin is the Training Officer for the fire department. He detailed that all 25 members were trained in shifts of four, and he looked forward to the opportunity.
He said, “It’s a benefit to our community and for our members as well. It’s not a call that we would receive often, but like most of the training that we do, we don’t encounter it often, but we need to train for it.”
Beaudry added, “This training and equipment are a precaution, and we hope that we never need it. But if you do need it, the next hope is that it saves a life.”