Responders train for ag injuries

First responders from around the county participated in a special training at the end of March that focused on care of injuries that could be encountered in an agricultural setting.

The special training took place March 30 and 31 with classroom sessions on one day and field clinic exercises on the second day.

The training focused on dealing with trauma situations. A previous training had covered situations involving various ag chemicals that responders might encounter.

Slim Farnsworth, education coordinator for the Delta County Ambulance District, told the DCI that about 30 responders participated. They were with DCAD, North Fork Ambulance Service, and volunteer firefighters from Delta, Cedaredge and Hotchkiss.

The exercise was staged at the U.S. Tractor facility in North Delta which provided equipment for the event. Training centered on dealing with trauma injuries that might occur around power take-off installations and with hay balers. In one exercise, Farnsworth explained, a training dummy was trapped in a baler. Firefighters practiced extrication techniques. Then, along with EMT personnel, they practiced CPR and the type of back boarding and transport that resulting injuries would require.

"It taught some of the EMTs with no ag experience what this farm equipment is. Some of the people with ag backgrounds helped with the exercise," Farnsworth explained. "It showed everyone the kinds of injuries you might expect to see and how to handle them."

In the process of the training sessions, personnel from the different agencies got to know one another on a first name basis. They also had the chance to see how other departments have equipment set up in their emergency vehicles. That kind of knowledge can be an operational benefit in situations where multiple agencies respond to an incident and everyone has to work together, Farns-worth said.

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