LO12 Extrication Flashcards
The following factors also contribute to serious injury on the farm
Very few safety regulations exist
When a farmer becomes entangled in equipment, lengthy extrications are often required, which aggravates and increases the severity of injury.
Since many farmers work alone in remote areas, they may not be missed for hours.
Long transport times contribute to the severity of injuries
Pinch points
two objects meet to cause a pinching or pulling action. Example: Chain driven parts
Wrap points
an aggressive component of machinery moves in a circular motion. Example: Power take off
Shear points
two objects move close enough together to cause a cutting action. Example: Auger
Crush points:
two large objects come together to cause a crushing action. Example: Feed roller
Stored energy
hazards remain after the machinery is shut down. Example: Spring loaded equipment
Once the vehicle has been stabilized, it may be shut down using the following procedures:
Enter the cab or climb onto the operator’s platform. Locate the ignition switch or the key and throttle
Slow the engine down with the throttle and then switch or turn off the key or ignition.
If you cannot shut down the engine from the cab or operator’s platform, try the shut-off valve at the bottom of the fuel tank.
If this does not work, try clamping the fuel line (rubber or metal hose) with a pair of pliers or vice-grips.
If the patient is in a life-threatening situation and all other attempts to shut down the engine have failed, discharge a CO2 fire extinguisher into the air intake.
Power Takeoff Shafts (PTO)
is a specially designed shaft that connects the tractor’s engine to other agricultural implements such as augers, mowers, and corn pickers.
PTO–related accidents occur when clothing gets caught in the spinning shaft and pulls the worker in. Arms and legs may be amputated. The worker’s body may also be wrapped around the shaft.
Combines
A common source of injury is the auger. The auger is the rotating part of a screw conveyor. It can pull in victims with extreme force, often causing complete amputations of extremities.
Other sources of injury are the heads, which have oscillating cutting bars; reels with hardened steel tines that can impale the patient; and snapping rollers, which cause severe crush injuries.
Never use the self-reversing feature on a combine to remove a trapped patient.
Hay Balers
A worker can be picked up and pulled into the header assembly. He can be entrapped up to the shoulders, and the tines can cause penetrating wounds in the chest and abdomen.
Avulsions of various degrees can be caused by the cross auger.
grain bins
Usually loaded by augers, grain bins come in a variety of sizes. Workers who enter one to get grain flowing can be buried with grain in seconds.
Because most bins unload from the centre, most patients are found in the middle of the bin.
The temperature of stored grains is low, even in the summer. The patient could become hypothermic, possibly prolonging survival.
General guidelines for grain bin extrication include the following:
Keep fans working until the
actual extrication begins—this may provide more air to the patient.
Ensure the fire department is on-scene with a charged water line.
Cut two 18-inch triangles in the side of the wall on opposite sides of the bin.
The holes should be as high as possible, but remain below the grain level.
Open the holes at the same time to allow the grain to flow out of the bin evenly.
You may have to cut additional holes as the grain level drops.
Once you have exposed the patient, secure him with a lifeline.
Try to shore the grain away from the patient. You could use spine boards, plywood, metal sheets, etc
Remove as much grain from around the patient as possible before extrication. Pulling against the force of the grain can cause further injury.
Airway management and spinal immobilization are management priorities.
Silos
used to store chopped grain or hay as feed for livestock. They may be constructed of clay blocks, concrete blocks, steel sheets, poured concrete, or steel glass-lined sheets.
When crops are stored in silos, gases are formed by natural chemical fermentation.
Fermenting crops can release high levels of carbon monoxide, methane, and oxides of nitrogen (“silo gas”).
silo gas
Red-brown to yellow-green in colour, silo gas smells like household bleach and will kill within minutes in high concentrations. Because silo gas is heavier than air, it flows down the side chute and out the open silo door.
People working around the base of the silo, in the feed room, or adjacent barn can be exposed to dangerous levels of silo gas. Low levels of silo gas can irritate the nose, throat, and lower airway.
The presence of silo gas may be recognized by the following signs:
Bleach-like odour
Yellowish or reddish vapour hovering over the product
Stains of red, yellow, or brown on the product or other surfaces contacted by the gas
Dead birds or insects near the silo
Nearby livestock with signs of illness
When rescuing a patient exposed to silo gas, follow these guidelines:
All rescuers entering the silo or contaminated structures must use a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and appropriate protective clothing and eyewear.
All rescuers coming into contact with the patient must use appropriate protective clothing, eyewear, and gloves
Follow decontamination procedures.
All patients must be transported to a health care facility.
Manure Storage
There are two potential injuries from liquid manure
drowning and inhaling toxic fumes.
The liquid manure releases ammonia, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane, and hydrogen sulfide.
Agitation of the manure pit can cause the sudden release of hydrogen sulfide.
Signs and symptoms of hydrogen sulfide intoxication
cough,
irritation of mucus membranes,
nausea
pulmonary edema.
High concentrations can cause respiratory paralysis respiratory arrest and sudden collapse.
Agricultural Chemicals
Poisoning from these agents are often overlooked because the signs and symptoms resemble other common medical conditions including heat exhaustion, food poisoning, asthma, allergies, congestive heart failure, smoke inhalation, and influenza to name a few.
Rescue
needs to deliver for danger or imprisonment’
Technical rescue incident
complex rescue incident involving
vehicle extrication,
rescue from water, ice or confined spaces,
rescuing following trench, structural collapse,
high angle rescue,
response to hazardous materials incident
wilderness search and rescue in specifically trained personnel in special equipment
Three levels of training and technical rescue
Awareness: emphasis on recognizing the hazards, securing the scene and calling for appropriate assistance
Operations: operations training will allow you to assist directly into the rescue operation and take a limited part in rescue incidents
Technician: directly involved in the rescue operation itself
Steps of Special Rescue
Preparation Response Arrival and assessment Stabilization Access Disentanglement Removal Transport
Preparation
Does the service have the personnel and equipment needed to handle a TRI from start to finish
Which equipment and personnel will be first on scene
what resources will be available on call
Do members of the service know the hazards in the response area
Response
A dispatch protocol should be established
Respond with resources including a rescue squad, a fire engine, fire supervisory staff, an ambulance and a paramedic supervisor
Might need to notify utility companies
Arrival and assessment
Immediately on arrival incident commander will assume command
A rapid an accurate seen assessment is needed to see what additional resources might be needed and to determine danger
Assess the extent of injuries and number of patients
Stabilization
Establish an outer perimeter to keep public and media out of staging area and maintain a smaller perimeter directly around the rescue
The size of the rescue area is proportional to the hazards are exist
Hot zone
Area for entry teams and rescue teams this zone immediately surrounds the site of incident
