About Us
County Impact Statements - Polk County
Volunteers Trained in Tractor Rollover
Rescue
With Polk County’s rural countryside and large agriculture base, a need was
identified to better prepare volunteer firefighters, law enforcement, emergency
personnel, and first responders for farm accident rescues. Community volunteers
spent 2 hours of classroom time and 8 hours practicing hands-on rescues.
The Farm Rescue Program is a joint program sponsored by Farm Bureau and the U
of A Cooperative Extension Service. The idea for the program came out of a Farm
Bureau meeting. About the same time, the Mena Fire Chief called the Extension
Office and requested the program be offered. A committee representing all
aspects of the rescue community was formed and the program was planned.
This collaborative effort reached an audience not currently served by the
Extension Service. More communication lines were established between the various
rescue personnel. After seeing how effective air bag devices were as a rescue
tool, the Office of Emergency Management worked with the fire departments to
purchase a set of air bags for the county.
Over 100 volunteers throughout the county were trained through the program.
Nine out of the fourteen rural fire departments, the ambulance service,
personnel from the emergency room, air rescue, personnel from the sheriff’s
department, Farm Bureau, and the Director of Emergency Management were all
involved.
Volunteers practicing the rescue of a tractor rollover victim
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Impacts
- New audience identified and reached
- More respect for variety of programs offered by Extension
- More efficient rescue equipment purchased
- Communication lines between various departments in the county were
established and improved
- 100 participants more prepared for farm rescues
- Collaborative effort improved working relationship between sponsors
- Better working relationship established between volunteers and paid
emergency personnel.
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