It seems simple. A single tube. But it’s something that could mean the difference between life and death in a grain bin.
This week, the Williamson County Farm Bureau (CFB) is donating a rescue tube and grain bin retrieval system to the Williamson County Emergency Service District #10 station in Coupland in an effort to possibly save a life in the future.
“There are a lot of grain bins being added to farms in Central Texas,” Bob Avant, Williamson CFB president, said. “Farmers are utilizing them more to market their grain, but it only takes one accident, one bad move to cost a life. With the donation of this system, we’re hoping to save a life by ensuring our first responders have the tools they need.”
The rescue system is comprised of four sections that fit together to create one tube. The pieces can be taken into tight places and put together around a victim to stabilize grain. An auger is then used to pull the grain surrounding the person out of the enclosed area to reduce the likelihood of suffocation.
“Stored grains may seem stable, but can shift unexpectedly, putting a person in a dangerous situation,” Avant, who is also an agricultural engineer, said. “You can sink into the grain and find yourself unable to get out. Tubes like these are vital to save lives in a situation where every second counts. Regardless, you should never enter a grain bin without a safety harness and respirator and never enter a bin alone.”
The Williamson CFB donated the tube to the ESD/Coupland Volunteer Fire Department. The department will soon train with the device to ensure they’re ready in the event the tube is ever needed. Tracy Gardner, fire chief of the Coupland Volunteer Fire Department, said, “We will be working with other emergency responders in the area to dispatch the system in the event of an emergency and we appreciate Williamson County Farm Bureau providing this life-saving equipment.”
“On-farm safety is paramount,” Avant said. “We do all we can to be as safe as possible, but accidents happen, and we want to ensure our community is prepared to help our farmers and ranchers.”