Unidentified officers of the Otho Volunteer Fire Department demonstrate how the six-panelled grain rescue tube is pieced around a grain-engulfed victim.

OTHO – As volunteers of the Otho Fire Department gathered Tuesday evening at the communityt’s fire station, representatives of NEW Cooperative presented their donation of a grain engulfment rescue tube.

This large, 115-pound rescue tube is the latest in equipment used for rescuing a victim entrapped in grain.

In an effort to ensure area farmers and agriculture industry employees have the rescue equipment necessary in the case of an unexpected grain accident near their communities, NEW Cooperative has purchased four of these rescue tubes to be placed at fire departments within its trade area.

“NEW Cooperative continually strives to support our rural communities and area residents in as many ways possible, and that includes their safety as well,” reported Afton Holt, communications specialist for NEW Cooperative.

As rural areas continue to see grain engulfment injuries and fatalities each year, these innovative rescue tubes have the capabilities to increase the chances of a victim’s survival when entrapped in grain.

As a victim becomes engulfed, the flow and pressure of the grain on them is so immense, very few rescues are successful.

In a rescue situation, these six aluminum panels lock together and pushed down into the grain around the victim to stop the flow and pressure.

This allows rescue workers to begin removing what grain is inside the tube and slowly extract the victim.

Dennis Knight, safety and loss control manager at NEW Cooperative, emphasized the importance of training individuals on grain handling safety.

“Our rural fire and rescue departments receive grain rescue training,” he said, “and many employees in the agriculture industry, including those at NEW Cooperative, receive grain safety training regularly.

“However, accidents do occur, and it is important we are properly prepared for anything. We just hope we never have to use any of the rescue tubes being presented.”