Nominate Your Fire Department Contest Open Through April 30

When someone falls into a grain bin quick action is important, but without training intervention can be dangerous. In 2015, a Kansas farmer became trapped in a grain bin. The Westphalia Fire Department deployed a grain rescue tube they received just a few months prior to save his life, having received the equipment and training through the Nominate Your Fire Department Contest, held in conjunction with Grain Bin Safety Week.

The contest, held annually by Nationwide in conjunction with the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS), is critical to help rural first responders gain the training to perform grain bin rescues. According to Nationwide's review of media reports, interviews and research, equipment and rescue training granted by the contest have saved 16 lives.

This year's Nominate Your Fire Department Contest is accepting nominations until April 30. Winning departments receive a grain rescue tube, as well as a 6 hour hands-on training session from NECAS using their state-of-the-art grain entrapment simulator. Participants gain valuable practice for entrapment situations and learn to use rescue tubes to remove grain from the visible victim, which ensures a faster, safer rescue.

“Rural fire departments are often the only line of defense when an entrapment occurs,” said Dan Neenan, director at NECAS. “It’s critically important to ensure these first responders not only have the specialized rescue equipment, but also the training needed to respond effectively. NECAS is proud to join Nationwide and its partners to make a difference.”

The contest is part of Grain Bin Safety Week's ongoing goal to work towards a safer farming community. Through providing fire departments with rescue equipment and providing resources to educate farmers and their communities on how to remain safe, the program is working toward zero lives being lost in agriculture.

Learn more about the contest and nominate a fire department here.