The Redding Township Volunteer Fire Department is one of 60 departments across rural America that recently received a life-saving grain rescue tube and training as part of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co.’s annual Grain Bin Safety campaign.

The Columbus, Ohio-based insurance and financial firm in partnership with the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety have now supplied grain rescue equipment and training to 332 first responders across 33 states to help them when local grain entrapments occur, according to a news release.

The 60 departments were selected through a process in which there were thousands of nominations in the 2023 Nominate Your Fire Department Contest, an annual component of Nationwide’s Grain Bin Safety advocacy campaign.

“Grain bin accidents continue to be a critical issue facing the agriculture industry,” said Brad Liggett, president of agribusiness at Nationwide. “We are proud to have supplied these important resources to 60 more rural fire departments in partnership with the many sponsors involved in our grain bin safety efforts. However, the work will not be complete until we can put a stop to these needless accidents altogether. Thank you to the first responders who play such an important role in supporting the agriculture community.”

NECAS, based out of Peosta, Iowa, delivered the rescue tubes and training to 60 fire departments and conducted retraining for six additional fire departments throughout 2023, traveling to each location with state-of-the-art grain entrapment simulators. The comprehensive training sessions included classroom education and rescue simulations using the entrapment tools, which are loaded onto 20-foot trailers and able to hold about 100 bushels of grain each.

Since beginning the Grain Bin Safety campaign in 2014, at least seven fire departments have utilized their rescue tubes and training to successfully rescue entrapped individuals, including a recent Ohio rescue of a worker trapped up to his armpits in March.

“With entrapments and accidents on the rise, it’s as important as ever to be following proper safety precautions before entering a bin,” Liggett said. “Visit our Grain Bin Safety page to find educational resources and tools to help maintain grain quality and prevent accidents. Thank you to our generous partners who have supported this cause.”

Nationwide is continuing to work with partners throughout the year to provide additional grain rescue tubes and training sessions to fire departments in need. To learn how to get involved or sponsor a rescue tube for your local fire department, visit mynsightonline.com/grain-bin-safety/participate-partner/partner

These companies provide support for the program: KC Supply, Indiana Corn Marketing Council, Maryland Soy Board, Horizon Farm Credit, Maryland Grain Producers, Specialty Risk Insurance, Lutz Agency Inc., Bradford County Commissioners, Delaware Soybean Board, ProValue Insurance LLC, CHS, New York Farm Bureau, Perry County Farm Bureau, West Side Salvage, Delaware Farm Bureau, Kelly Jones Insurance Agency, Gary Thompson Agency, Gregerson Salvage, Inc., GROWMARK, Farm Creek Insurance, The Pegram Agency, Washington County Soil & Water District, HTS Ag, Maryland Farm Bureau, Ohio Farm Bureau, Sandy Oakley & Family, Gallagher, ABIS/Assured Partners, Sump Saver, NOHR Wortmann Engineering, IRMI and D. Larson Financial & Insurance Services.