FarmedicFarmedic­­

FFirst Responder Training irst Responder Training for Agricultural for Agricultural

EmergenciesEmergenciesPilot Test and EvaluationPilot Test and Evaluation

20092009

IntroductionIntroduction

• In 2006, Atlantic Provinces Agricultural Safety and In 2006, Atlantic Provinces Agricultural Safety and Health Council (APASH) identified the need to Health Council (APASH) identified the need to develop a specialist training program in develop a specialist training program in agricultural emergency response for the volunteer agricultural emergency response for the volunteer firefighter communityfirefighter community

• Reviewed current models in practice; led to Reviewed current models in practice; led to identification of the Farmedic Program based in the identification of the Farmedic Program based in the USAUSA

• The National Farmedic Program was developed to The National Farmedic Program was developed to its current form, tested, and managed by Cornell its current form, tested, and managed by Cornell University University

• The Farmedic Provider program is used across the The Farmedic Provider program is used across the United States to supplement extrication training to United States to supplement extrication training to firefighters, rescue squads, and EMS personnel.firefighters, rescue squads, and EMS personnel.

• Three Farmedic programs have been developed: Three Farmedic programs have been developed:

Instructor; Provider; First on the Scene (Farm Instructor; Provider; First on the Scene (Farm Families)Families)

BackgroundBackground• APASH Council sponsored Kim Murdock and APASH Council sponsored Kim Murdock and

Kendall Dunham, two Level 4 Firefighter Kendall Dunham, two Level 4 Firefighter Instructors from Fredericton NB, to assess the Instructors from Fredericton NB, to assess the Farmedic Provider course in North CarolinaFarmedic Provider course in North Carolina

• Reported a Farmedic program would likely be Reported a Farmedic program would likely be well received by Atlantic Canadian first well received by Atlantic Canadian first responders, responders,

• The curriculum changed to reflect Canadian The curriculum changed to reflect Canadian content, legislation, and agricultural situations. content, legislation, and agricultural situations.

• The US Farmedic Workbook was revised to The US Farmedic Workbook was revised to accommodate Canadian legislation and accommodate Canadian legislation and technologiestechnologies

• Purpose was to complete an evaluation of a pilot Purpose was to complete an evaluation of a pilot program in this region so it could be evaluated program in this region so it could be evaluated first hand by Atlantic Provinces farmers, farm first hand by Atlantic Provinces farmers, farm safety personnel, volunteer firefighters, safety personnel, volunteer firefighters, paramedics, RCMP personnel and other interested paramedics, RCMP personnel and other interested parties.  parties. 

AimsAims

• Determine the relevancy and quality of the course;

• Determine the challenges and feasibility of implementing the course;

• Gauge the interest of the partners and stakeholders for future programs.

Course descriptionCourse description

• Instructor Qualifier and Provider courses Instructor Qualifier and Provider courses delivered to 23 participants and observers in delivered to 23 participants and observers in totaltotal

• August 19-20 – Instructor CourseAugust 19-20 – Instructor Course• August 21-23 – Provider CourseAugust 21-23 – Provider Course• Participants backgrounds included voluntary Participants backgrounds included voluntary

firefighters, Nova Scotia Emergency Health firefighters, Nova Scotia Emergency Health Services (NS EHS) personnel, RCMP, Fire / Services (NS EHS) personnel, RCMP, Fire / Rescue Instructors, and other interested Rescue Instructors, and other interested observers at the courses. observers at the courses.

• The Nova Scotia Agricultural College (NSAC) The Nova Scotia Agricultural College (NSAC) organized and set up equipment for organized and set up equipment for demonstrations, and provided outstanding demonstrations, and provided outstanding technical support and on-site logistics.  technical support and on-site logistics.  

• Students stayed in residence and cafeteria open Students stayed in residence and cafeteria open for most mealsfor most meals

Courses formatCourses format• Both courses started with lectures Both courses started with lectures

delivered in classroomdelivered in classroom• Highlighted the hazards in agriculture, Highlighted the hazards in agriculture,

principles of agricultural occupational principles of agricultural occupational health and safety, profiles of Canadian health and safety, profiles of Canadian statisticsstatistics

• Tour of the facilities on site at the Tour of the facilities on site at the Agricultural College- demonstration of silo Agricultural College- demonstration of silo types; manure pits, confined space entry, types; manure pits, confined space entry, grain binsgrain bins

• Then equipment observations and Then equipment observations and demonstrations of PTO types demonstrations of PTO types

• Hands-on extrications with mannequins in Hands-on extrications with mannequins in real life scenarios. College staff provided real life scenarios. College staff provided on-site technical and logistical support. on-site technical and logistical support.

Evaluation ResultsEvaluation Results

• 80% of participants would highly 80% of participants would highly recommend the course to their colleagues recommend the course to their colleagues (ranked the course 10 out of 10).(ranked the course 10 out of 10).

• 100% ranked the course as highly 100% ranked the course as highly applicable to emergency situations in their applicable to emergency situations in their area (ranked 8 or higher on a scale of 1 to area (ranked 8 or higher on a scale of 1 to 10).10).

• The highlight of the course was The highlight of the course was unanimously the hands-on training, with unanimously the hands-on training, with discussion of shared experiences and discussion of shared experiences and specific solutions offered being second.specific solutions offered being second.

• The course was seen as somewhat unique The course was seen as somewhat unique and there were varying impressions about and there were varying impressions about the degree it could be offered as part of the degree it could be offered as part of other program offerings in first responder other program offerings in first responder training.training.

Course EvaluationCourse Evaluation• Nova Scotia Agricultural College was

seen as an excellent setting to offer the course.

• Students greatly appreciative of all the care and attention the staff provided in delivering the course. One participant said it was by far the best course he had ever taken.

• Topics not covered might include hazards involving tree farmers, skidders, fellers, bunchers, tracked vehicles (snowmobiles and skid loaders), potato harvesters, blueberry harvesters, pesticide equipment (sprayers), and rescue operations that occur in dangerous conditions for rescuers (i.e. icy).

Challenges and Feasibility Challenges and Feasibility IssuesIssues• The time of the year was less than

ideal. • Students suggested early June.• Some students said there wasn’t

enough time to learn everything and that the material was too intense and compact.

• Balance with other demands

Challenges and Feasibility Challenges and Feasibility IssuesIssues• Costs considerationsCosts considerations

– Instructor fees and travel expensesInstructor fees and travel expenses– Firefighter meals and accommodationsFirefighter meals and accommodations– Equipment rental and acquisition – 400 Equipment rental and acquisition – 400

pieces ofpieces of• First time offered by the Nova Scotia First time offered by the Nova Scotia

Agricultural College which proved to be Agricultural College which proved to be an outstanding institution and location an outstanding institution and location to offer the course to offer the course

• Relationship between College and the Relationship between College and the Nova Scotia Emergency Health Services Nova Scotia Emergency Health Services who certify First Responder trainingwho certify First Responder training

• Liability considerations (Risk Liability considerations (Risk Assessment Review)Assessment Review)

RecommendationsRecommendations

• The pilot instructor and provider courses should be offered once more to train more instructors and providers– Enrollment limited

• NS Agricultural College now also have experience

• More opportunities for Canadian rural volunteer firefighters and first responders to know more about the farm safety hazards that exist in their communities.

• Emergency response educational materials and outreach should include first responders, RCMP officers and paramedics and farm families.

• The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association should continue to collaborate with the McNeil and Company Inc.

RecommendationsRecommendations• Paramedics would benefit from specific

information such as wrap point auger entanglement, extrication methods, and field amputations protocols. These could apply to heavy equipment situations in addition to those in farm-related incidents.

• The most ideal situation would be to have a nominated representative from one fire department or district to attend the course. They would then be able to impart their knowledge back into their department. As a result, it is recommended that a fire chief or firefighter with instructor qualifications be the target audience for this course.

Possibility of Future ProgramsPossibility of Future Programs• Important that Farmedic Curriculum is Important that Farmedic Curriculum is

standardized – Canada should be the same- standardized – Canada should be the same- do not ‘cherry pick’ scenarios and leave out do not ‘cherry pick’ scenarios and leave out in class teachingin class teaching

• Firefighters would be the primary beneficiary Firefighters would be the primary beneficiary of such training, as they would be the most of such training, as they would be the most likely to respond to such calls and have the likely to respond to such calls and have the equipment to perform the scenarios. equipment to perform the scenarios.

• A representative from the RCMP commented A representative from the RCMP commented that there is enough information for RCMP to that there is enough information for RCMP to learn that it could be condensed into a four learn that it could be condensed into a four hour “do’s and don’ts” lesson for junior hour “do’s and don’ts” lesson for junior officer training. officer training.

• RCMP officers would benefit from learning RCMP officers would benefit from learning about scene control (animals, crowd, and about scene control (animals, crowd, and family) and what not to do regarding farm-family) and what not to do regarding farm-related emergencies.related emergencies.

Thank you!Thank you!