Kent County, Maryland is noted for a few things. Among those, is our agricultural interests. We have any number of farmers whose primary interest is growing and processing grain products. For efficiency, these farmers maintain grain bins, a.k.a. Silos, on their farms.

Occasionally, especially during grain harvest season, personnel may have to enter the silo, perhaps to clear a blockage, or discern what the problem may be. This is one of the most dangerous things they will ever do. The “suction” of the grain material, as it’s being unloaded at the bottom, is as dangerous as the riptide / undertow at the ocean. Across the United States, nay… the entire world, many farm workers have entered this environment… and lost their lives.

This training is especially invaluable to us, as sometimes emergency responders are sometimes the victims, themselves. After a period of classroom discussion, the activity transitioned outside to the training trailer. Here, through specialized engineering, a grain bin has been fashioned, and the “suction” phenomenon duplicated, safely! At anytime during an exercise, should something with the training evolution go sideways? The instructors can terminate the process and drain away the grain product. In the Fire Service, we have a mantra. “It is not acceptable for anyone to be injured, or even die, because of training!” It’s the purpose of training to prevent that very serious, even tragic outcome… During a real emergency!

Our thanks to the Kennedyville VFC for hosting this critical, potentially lifesaving training,