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Sussex first responders get hands-on training

Farming accident scenarios simulate real-life situations confronted by emergency personnel
Sussex County EMS paramedics, Delaware State Police aviation unit and Sussex County Technical Rescue Team members participate in a training exercise simulating five different farming accidents. RON MACARTHUR PHOTOS
Ron MacArthur
November 21, 2022

Farming is the No. 1 industry in Sussex County, yet first responders have limited training dealing with farm-specific accidents.

As of this week, that has changed. Following a year of planning, Sussex County Emergency Medical Services, county fire departments, the Delaware State Police aviation unit and Sussex County Technical Rescue personnel have received training coordinated by Rescue Tech, which specializes in agricultural-related rescues.

First responders spent an entire day participating in five scenarios including an overturned tractor and auger, tractor shaft, grain and corn picker simulated accidents. In each scenario, personnel had to extricate “victims” and assess their injuries.

The scenarios, using real farm equipment and rescue dummies, took place over five days at the county's Wolfe Neck Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility off Wolfe Neck Road between Lewes and Rehoboth Beach.

“There is a focus on medical skills because these accidents tend to be longer and more devastating accidents,” said Rescue Tech owner Eric Rickenbach of Rehrersburg, Pa.

“Sussex EMS have seen these types of incidents over the past few years and there is a need for this type of training,” said trainer Richard Garber.

Each year in the United States, 400 to 600 farmers are killed while working; 33% of all farm workers suffer nonfatal injuries and 3% are permanently disabled.

It was a chance for paramedics to work with the Sussex County Technical Rescue Team, which comprises firefighters from throughout the county who respond to incidents involving structural collapse, big rigs including grain mills, trenches and those in confined spaces.

The team is funded by Sussex County Firefighters Association, Sussex County Council and Delaware Emergency Management Agency.

Sussex EMS Education Coordinator Matt Troutman said the week's training is one in a series of ongoing training excercises for first responders. Previous training was completed in aviation (2018) and water (2021) rescues. More than 200 first responders took part in this year's training.

Funding came from a DEMA reimbursement grant with Sussex County.

 

Removing a “victim” from a grain picker accident are paramedics Trent Hill, left, and Courtney Betschner in the bin and on the ground (l-r) Sharon Wile, Calvin Yelverton and Ryan Cook.
Sussex paramedics Brittany McCloskey, left, and Kristin Endres assess a “patient” who is injured in a farm accident.
Even with great strides in the safety of farm equipment, accidents still occur at a high rate in one of the most dangerous professions in the country.
Removing a “victim” from an auger accident requires time and skill.
From left, Sussex paramedic Bonnie Allard, DSP aviation unit member Matt Pragg and paramedic Matt Jankovic remove a “victim” from an overturned tractor.
Rescue Tech trainer Mark Taluba, left, offers suggestions to a group of Sussex County paramedics during a simulated auger farm accident. They are (l-r) Stephanie Forbes, Matt Dotterer, Alan Jarmon, Brandon Donaway and Alejandro Zambrano.
Assessing a “victim” just removed from an overturned tractor are (l-r) paramedic Matt Jankovic, DSP aviation unit member Matt Pragg and paramedic Keith Bennett. Overturned tractors are the most common farming accident.
Before the “victim” could be removed from the tractor, it had to be secured and lifted up.
Sussex County Technical Rescue Team members Curtis Stephens, left, and Josh Perrine make preparations to lift a tipped-over tractor.
Rescue Tech’s Richard Garber, center, gives hands-on training to Sussex County paramedics Trent Hill, left, and Sharon Wile, right, on the proper way to rescue someone covered in grain.
As paramedics work to stabilize a “victim” with his arm stuck in an auger, others begin to carefully cut away the metal pipe.
Sussex paramedics find a way to administer aid to a “victim” trapped under a tractor.
Sussex County EMS paramedic Gwen Smith participates on one of five days of training for all county paramedics.
Sussex paramedic Heather Wilson prepares medication for a victim before removal from the accident scene.

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