Here are some key points.
- Act quickly but calmly in an emergency.
- Know where our emergency phone numbers and first aid kits are located.
- Get professional emergency medical help as soon as possible when someone is seriously injured.
- Know what information to give a 911 dispatcher or other emergency telephone dispatcher.
Why your response is important
Agricultural operations are often located some distance away from emergency medical services and other sources of professional medical help. In addition, many agricultural accidents occur in fields or other remote areas where they may go unnoticed for long periods of time. That’s why it’s important that you know what to do if you come across an emergency situation. Your quick actions can make the difference between life and death.
Agricultural accidents often occur some distance away from help.
Know where our first aid kits are located and what is in them.
If another person is with you, send that person to call the emergency medical services while you stay with the injured party. Reassure the injured person.
How to recognize an emergency
- If you see, hear or smell something unusual, that may be your first indication that an emergency situation exists.
- Some examples of unusual noises include a person screaming or calling for help; sudden, loud voices; breaking glass; unusual machinery or equipment noise; screeching tires; or a loud crash.
- An emergency may also exist if you smell something unusual. Be especially alert to this if you work with pesticides or other chemicals.
- Some examples of unusual sights are spilled chemical containers, downed electrical wires, smoke or fire.
- An emergency may also exist if you see someone having trouble breathing or speaking, holding his throat or chest, sweating for no apparent reason, or suddenly appearing dizzy or confused.
- If you spot an emergency situation, get emergency help as soon as possible.
A few important tips
- Know where our emergency telephone numbers are located.
- Know where our first aid kits are located and what is in them.
- Stay calm when you come across an emergency.
- Quickly assess the situation. If someone is hurt, make sure both you and the injured person are out of immediate danger. For example, if someone is caught in a PTO, turn the power off if you can safely do so.
- Warning:
- Never touch a downed power line. Don’t touch a person who has come into contact with a power line until the power has been turned off. If you need to move the person, use a wooden pole or other non-conducting object.
- Call for professional emergency medical help as soon as possible. Don’t move a person with injuries to the head, neck or back unless he is in immediate danger. Administer CPR if the person isn’t breathing and you have been trained in CPR.
- If another person is with you, send that person to call the emergency medical services while you stay with the injured party. Reassure the injured person.
Information to give an emergency dispatcher
- the location of the emergency and how to get there
- what happened and how many people are injured
- what type of first aid is being given
- what additional hazards exist
- your name and the number you are calling from
- whether someone will meet the emergency medical services by the road or at a remote location
Emergency Response Do’s and Don’ts
Do
- Make sure someone knows where you are at all times, and have someone periodically check on you.
- Know who to call for professional emergency medical help and what information will be needed.
Don't
- Move a person with head, neck or back injuries unless he is in immediate danger.
- Forget to tell a supervisor if a first aid kit needs to be restocked.
