STOUGHTON, Wis. --
This weekend, Dane County first-responders attended a farm rescue training event in Stoughton.
Seven injury-related accidents have occurred on Wisconsin farms in the last month. Farming for years has been ranked as one of the most dangerous occupations, WISC-TV reported.
The owners of Furseth Farms offered their site for the training of area firefighters and paramedics.
"We know people that have been in trouble and have lost their lives in these types of situations, so they came to us, and we were more than willing," said Dan Furseth, part-owner of Furseth Farms.
Farm crisis situations are unique; for example, a tractor rollover is nothing like what first responders are likely to see on the highway. A tractor can't be broken apart, it's less stable on the ground, and if someone is trapped underneath, injuries can be even more severe than for someone trapped under a car.
Mark Hale, a firefighter for the Stoughton Fire Department, said the training was an important experience.
"We were in a pretty controlled environment, and even then, we had some challenges. So, it's an opportunity for everybody to talk about it. For people who've been in experiences like this, to do some coaching to other personnel," he said.
The most extensive drill was the confined space rescue. For farmers, being trapped in a silo of grain and not being able to move is a nightmare. More than 90 percent of farmers who fall in over their head won't be able to make it out alive. It's a potential situation officials fear will become more common, WISC-TV reported.
Lori Wirth, public information officer with the Madison Fire Department, said that this exercise had practical applications.
"As we see a boom in ethanol production, we're seeing more grain silos go up. So this rescue in a corn silo is really a very likely scenario," she said.
Organizers of the event hope that having the opportunity to view a rescue and to talk with others who have experience will help even the most seasoned first responders to become more proficient.
