Farm Safety and Rescue Area at Wisconsin Farm Technology Days in Clark County

Friday, June 24th, 2022 -- 12:00 PM

The need to be safe is of the utmost importance every day on the farm.

That is the objective of everyone involved with the Farm Safety and Rescue Area at Wisconsin Farm Technology Days. Melissa Ploeckelman with the National Farm Medicine Center is heading-up the effort.

Area fire departments have joined together to demonstrate “How to prevent farm incidents and how to rescue after a farm incident has happened.” One feature will be a tractor roll-over demonstration which will show how a ROPS (roll-over protection structure) can save lives.

Ploeckelman says in the event of a tractor roll-over; “With a ROPS and a seatbelt, the operator is 99% likely to survive.” Without a ROPS, the chance of survival is just 3%. Visitors to the display can learn about the NFMS ROPS Rebate Program which helps with the cost to retro-fit older tractors without a ROPS.

There will also be a demonstration of how a fire department goes about rescuing the victim of a roll-over. Another dangerous area on the farm is the grain bin. The Pittsville Fire Department will bury someone up to their waist in their grain bin simulator, then demonstrate their grain bin rescue unit.

Ploeckelman says if someone is buried up to their waist; “they need 300 pounds of pressure to pull them out of that grain. That amount of pressure would rip someone in half.” They will talk about the importance of following safety procedures when entering a grain bin.

All three demonstrations will be conducted all three days of Wisconsin Farm Technology Days.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.