In pilot research, farmers expressed willingness to make changes to behavior and operations if given advice from their local fire department.
In the Rural Firefighters Delivering Agricultural Safety and Health (RF-DASH) program, farmers and first responders unite to improve farm safety and prevent agricultural incidents in rural communities. RF-DASH partners with institutions that offer industry-leading tools and technology to help achieve the goal of increasing farm safety.
A FIVE PART TRAINING CURRICULUM
RF-DASH uses a train-the-trainer approach with a curriculum that aligns with many National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards. The five-part training covers:
- Introduction to Agricultural Emergencies
Causes of common farm emergencies and strategies to improve responses. - Preplanning and Mapping Farms
Preplanning and mapping farms to expedite response times in an emergency using the free, online, mobile-friendly tool, Farm-MAPPER. - Farm Hazard Analysis
Identifying common hazards found on farms and using Saferfarm.org and the Farm Hazard Analysis Tool (FARM-HAT) to correct them and reduce the risk of injury on farms. - Farm First Aid
How to manage a victim injured in a farm incident while emergency services are en route to the scene. - Approaching the Farm
Reaching out and approaching the farming community to implement the RF-DASH program on their area’s operations.
RF-DASH Highlights
- Over 150 firefighters/EMS have been trained as trainers in the program from several U.S. states and Canadian provinces. They have gone on to educate over 2,500 agricultural safety and health professionals, educators, community members and farmers.
- The media has picked up on the success of this program, with articles in key agricultural outlets.
- RF-DASH is working with representatives from the US Fire Administration, National Volunteer Fire Council, and National Center for Farmworker Health to help rural communities prepare for agricultural hazards and bridge gaps in current emergency preparedness planning.
Emergency Preparedness Resources
The RF-DASH team has developed several emergency preparedness and outreach materials that fire departments can distribute to farms in their area to raise awareness and build relationships with the agricultural community. These materials include:
- Farm/Ranch Emergency Information Sheet
- Tips for Calling 9-1-1 on Farms & Ranches
- Manure Gas Warning Sticker
- Manure Gas Fire Department Sticker
RF-DASH and Farm Mapper Highlight Videos
“The opportunity to help the people who do so much for our communities is something we would never say ‘no’ to. We were glad to learn ways we could be safer here, just by hosting the group on the farm.”
“Excellent course. Very useful information and great ideas for pre-planning farm emergencies.”
“I think that’s the plus of the program, taking rural firefighters and engaging them with that population. It’s a small enough community that everyone knows each other. There’s already a relationship there so-it’s not a government agency or an insurance company or something threatening, it’s someone who knows them and says, ‘Dude, I care about you, Let’s work together to make it better.‘””