Media Advisory: University of Iowa hosts grain silo rescue demonstration as part of agricultural safety sessions
Friday, June 6, 2014
Written by: William Barker

WHAT: Grain silo rescue demonstration with the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety. A professional will climb into a simulated silo filled with grain and demonstrate a potential real-life situation in which a person needs to be rescued from an avalanche of flowing grain.

It takes 15 seconds to be covered waist deep in grain and 30 seconds for the entire body to be submerged. Knowing how to take action could be the difference between life and death for many farmers and rescue personnel.

The exercise is part of a week-long series dedicated to safety in agricultural and farming practices in Iowa organized by the University of Iowa’s Great Plains Center Core Course in Agricultural Safety and Health. Professionals in agriculture, medicine, health, nursing, veterinary science, and other fields will attend the course, held mostly at the UI College of Public Health.

Successful completion allows qualified participants to become certified in AgriSafe, which promotes agricultural health services.

WHO: UI researchers, officials with the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety, simulator participant

WHEN: Monday, June 9, at 5 p.m.

WHERE: University of Iowa College of Public Health Building. Metered parking is available in front of building or below in Lot 42. Additional parking available in Newton Road Ramp located on Newton Road. Map.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: For more information on the course, including a complete schedule of events, visit the website.

NOTE TO EDITORS AND TV NEWS DIRECTORS: Mp4 video clips from the event will be available for download by 8 p.m. Monday, June 9, at http://focus.media.uiowa.edu/shares/mediadrop.
Photos of the event will be available at https://www.flickr.com/photos/uinews/14304629801/.

FARM SAFETY ITEM OF RELATED INTEREST: Farm tractor safety and young farmers is a subject of continuing research at the National Advanced Driving Simulator in the University of Iowa College of Engineering. For more information on this National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health–funded work, see Protecting young farmers or contact Associate Research Scientist Timothy Brown at timothy-l-brown@uiowa.edu or 319-335-4785.