What's Happening?
The National Farm Medicine Center, in partnership with North Dakota State University Extension, is offering the Rural Firefighters Delivering Agriculture Safety and Health (RF-DASH) train-the-trainer program. This in-person training will take place on December
5 at Webster Farms, near Penn, North Dakota, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The program is free, but registration is required by November 26. RF-DASH aims to equip trusted community members, including firefighters, county emergency managers, EMS personnel, law enforcement, safety professionals, Extension agents, technical college instructors, rural insurance agents, farmers, and ranchers, with the knowledge and skills to prevent agricultural injuries and fatalities. The curriculum covers five modules: Introduction to Agricultural Emergencies, Preplanning and Mapping Farms with Farm MAPPER, Farm Hazard Analysis with Saferfarm.org, Farm First Aid, and Approaching the Farm Community, with a hands-on component.
Why It's Important?
Safety practices on farms and ranches are often voluntary, making community-led initiatives like RF-DASH crucial for identifying hazards and reducing the risk of injuries and fatalities in the agricultural sector. Agriculture is one of the most dangerous industries, and empowering local first responders and community leaders to provide safety education can significantly improve outcomes. By training these individuals, the program creates a network of informed and proactive safety advocates who can directly engage with farmers and ranchers. This localized approach ensures that safety information is delivered by trusted sources, increasing its adoption and effectiveness. Ultimately, RF-DASH contributes to the well-being of agricultural workers and their families, fostering safer working environments and potentially reducing the burden on rural emergency services.
What's Next?
The RF-DASH program will continue to expand its reach, with trainings recently conducted in Michigan, New York, and Kentucky. Sampson Community College in Clinton, North Carolina, has also received a grant recommendation for its RF-DASH program, indicating further curriculum development and official course approval within the North Carolina Community College System. The program is also available as a free online course, making it accessible to anyone interested in agricultural safety at any time. These ongoing efforts suggest a sustained commitment to improving farm safety nationwide, with a focus on empowering local communities and leveraging technology to disseminate critical safety information.
