Chapter 47EMS in Rural America

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Overview

Farm Emergencies Basic Farm

Rescue Principles Technical Rescue

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Farm Emergencies

90% of farms are privately owned The majority of the injuries on farms

occur in the summer months Women, children, and the elderly are

among the victims of farm related accidents

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Basic Farm Rescue Principles

A preplan is very important Scene size up and safety are critical Know when to call for backup when

specially trained personnel are needed Know how to mitigate threats while

waiting for backup

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Basic Farm Rescue Principles

Livestock – React unpredictably when sensing danger– Consider appropriate PPE when encountering

animals– Remove the animal from the scene – Become familiar with species-specific behaviors

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Basic Farm Rescue Principles

Pigs– Color-blind– Lack depth perception

Cows– Color-blind– Lack depth perception– Hindquarters are a blind spot– Startle at loud sounds

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Basic Farm Rescue Principles

Horses– Keen sense of hearing– Approach from the

left shoulder– Use a lead and not the

halter to lead – Stay parallel to the horse

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Basic Farm Rescue Principles

Mechanism of injury– Lacerations– Avulsions– Punctures– Crush injuries

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Stop and Review

Name the common mechanisms of injury on a farm.

Name hazards related to livestock. Name hazards related to machinery.

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Technical Rescue

Establish scene safety and a perimeter Develop a rescue plan Request necessary special equipment

or trained personnel Consider time factors Plan for transport

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Technical Rescue

Tractor accidents – Collisions with other vehicles on the roads– Rollovers are common– Entanglement in power takeoff gears

is also common

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Technical Rescue

Tractor rollovers– Establish scene safety– Turn off the tractor– Lift the tractor off the patient or dig the patient out– MOI is usually a crushed pelvis, chest trauma,

or burns

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Technical Rescue

Entanglement in PTO– Secure the scene– Turn off the tractor– Block the wheels– Disassemble or cut the PTO– Injuries include lacerations,

fractures, avulsions

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Technical Rescue

Silos– Oxygen poor environments– Produce gases:

nitrogen dioxide– Treated as confined

space rescues– MOI is oxygen deprivation

or entrapment

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Technical Rescue

Grain bins– Entrapment can occur due to movement

of the grain– Do not open gravity gates– Encourage the patient to self-rescue

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Technical Rescue

Manure storage– Can be above or below ground– Gases are produced from the breakdown

of bacteria – Gases include methane, hydrogen

sulfide, ammonia, carbon dioxide– Dangers to the farmer are asphyxiation

and explosion

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Technical Rescue

Farm chemicals– Pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers– Treated as a hazardous materials response– Common chemicals are anhydrous ammonia,

organophosphates– Symptom patterns for exposure follow SLUDGEM

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Stop and Review

Discuss the dangers associated with: – PTOs– Silos– Manure storage facilities– Chemicals found on the farm