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Nationwide’s Grain Bin Safety campaign has awarded over $1 million in resources to first responders across the U.S. since 2014

On Thursday, Sept. 7, the Townsend Fire Company will be awarded a grain rescue tube and specialized training to help protect against grain bin entrapments in the area. The resources are being provided by the Delaware Farm Bureau through ’Nationwides Grain Bin Safety advocacy campaign , which has supplied grain rescue tubes and hands-on training to 272 rural fire departments across 31 states since 2014. To deliver the resources, Nationwide partners with the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS) to train first responders in a grain simulator. Resources provided through the campaign have been used to save the lives of at least seven workers trapped in grain bins.

An opportunity for media to attend the demonstration portion of the training session and conduct interviews is available upon request.

Who: Townsend Fire Company

Delaware Farm Bureau

Nationwide

NECAS

What: Delaware Farm Bureau will be awarding a grain rescue tube and critical, hands-on training to Townsend Fire Department to help protect against local grain bin accidents.

When: Thursday, Sept. 7 at 6 p.m.

Where: 107 Main St, Townsend, DE 19734

Full details:

Nationwide’s safety program has awarded more than $1 million in rescue equipment since 2014

Des Moines, IA - Grain bins serve a critical role in agriculture, providing secure storage and protection for large quantities of grain before it’s sold or processed. However, these structures also pose very serious and threatening dangers to workers if proper safety procedures aren’t followed when working in or around them. To help raise awareness of these dangers and prevent tragic deaths in grain structures, Nationwide has opened its 10th annual Nominate Your Fire Department Contest in recognition of Grain Bin Safety Week .

The Startling Facts: Injuries & Fatalities from grain bins

    ? In four seconds, an adult can sink knee-deep in flowing grain and be rendered unable to free themselves without assistance. In just 20 seconds, an adult can be fully engulfed. 

    ? Suffocation from engulfment or oxygen-deficient atmospheres is the leading cause of death in grain accidents. 

    ? In 2021, at least 29 grain entrapments were reported, resulting in 11 fatalities. 

    ? More than 300 grain entrapments have been recorded in the past decade. It’s estimated an additional 30% of cases go unreported.

Sources: Summary of U.S. Agricultural Confined Space-Related Injuries and Fatalities

“Every year, grain bin accidents lead to countless injuries or deaths and it is everyone’s responsibility to take proactive measures to prevent these tragedies from happening,” said Brad Liggett , president of Agribusiness at Nationwide. “For a decade, Nationwide has been a leader in the fight to correct this industry issue, and while we’re incredibly proud of the efforts and the many partners who’ve made them possible, there is more work to be done.”

A decade of progress: Grain Bin Safety Week is making an impact

Nationwide initiated its annual Grain Bin Safety campaign in 2014 to raise awareness of the dangers of working in grain bins and promote a zero-entry mentality. Grain Bin Safety Week , which takes place Feb. 19-25, 2023, brings a national spotlight to the issue each year. A key component of Grain Bin Safety Week is the annual Nominate Your Fire Department Contest, which aims to supply fire departments across rural America with the specialized rescue training and equipment needed to respond if an entrapment occurs. The Nominate Your Fire Department Contest is now open until April 30, 2023. Learn how to nominate your local fire department  here.

Since 2014, Nationwide and partners have awarded 272 grain rescue tubes to first responders across 31 states - eclipsing more than $1 million in resources provided. At least seven successful rescues have utilized these resources, including recent rescues in Sussex County, Delaware, and Wilmington, Ohio.

Nationwide collaborates each year with the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS) to deliver the rescue equipment and provide safety training. NECAS instructors travel to training locations with state-of-the-art grain entrapment simulators, which are loaded onto 20-foot trailers and able to hold about 100 bushels of grain each. The comprehensive training sessions include classroom education and rescue simulations.

“Rural fire departments are often the only line of defense when an entrapment takes place in their region and time is of the essence when responding to these accidents,” said Dan Neenan, director at NECAS. “It’s critically important to ensure these first responders not only have the specialized rescue equipment, but also the training needed to respond effectively. NECAS is proud to join Nationwide and its partners to make a difference.”

For more information about the program, nomination process or how you can get involved, visit www.GrainBinSafetyWeek.com

Grain Bin Safety Week is made possible by the following generous partners:

KC Supply

NECAS

Nationwide Agribusiness

IN Corn Marketing Council

Horizon Farm Credit

Maryland Grain Producers

Specialty Risk

Lutz Agency

Maryland Soybean Board

Bradford/Sullivan County Farm Bureau & Bradford County Commissioners

ProValue Insurance

Nationwide Sponsor Relations

CHS

West Side Salvage

Delaware Farm Bureau

Kelly Jones Insurance Agency

Gary Thompson Agency

Gregerson Salvage

GROWMARK

Farm Creek Insurance

Gallagher

ABIS/Assured Partners

Maryland Farm Bureau

Ohio Farm Bureau

New York Farm Bureau

Sump Saver

NOHR Wortmann Engineering

IRMI

About Nationwide

Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the United States. Nationwide is rated A+ by both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor’s. An industry leader in driving customer-focused innovation, Nationwide provides a full range of insurance and financial services products including auto, business, homeowners, farm and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities and mutual funds; excess & surplus, specialty and surety; pet, motorcycle and boat insurance. For more information, visit  www.nationwide.com . Follow us on Facebook and Twitter .

All cash contributions help purchase grain bin tubes and/or training. All donations are managed through the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS), a 501(c)(3) non-profit.

For official rules, visit nationwide.com/GBSWContestRules

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