Goochland County Department of Fire-Rescue & Emergency Services in conjunction with the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads, The Alvis Farm (dairy farm), and the Virginia Farm Bureau held a “Farm Machinery Rescue/Extrication Class” earlier last month in eastern Goochland County. The class met Friday evening, Saturday, and Sunday. There were 20 firefighters and EMS providers in the program from Goochland, Powhatan, Louisa, Fluvanna, and Amelia Counties. Students learned about the hazards of farming and visited a working farm, practicing rescue skills such as entrapments, overturned tractors, hay baler entrapments, auger injuries, etc. Earlier today, VA State Police Med-Flight 1 Helicopter flew in visiting with the class for a demonstration showing their advanced pre-hospital patient care including the administration of blood products in the field.
The class is a 16-hour Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads program taught by 5 very knowledgeable and skilled instructors from the more rural parts of the Commonwealth, some of whom are also farmers. Over the last 18 months, there have been three farming accidents in Goochland County. Today agriculture in Goochland County is defined as the science, art, or occupation concerned with cultivating land, raising crops, and feeding, breeding, raising livestock. Examples includes livestock, poultry, crops, craft beverages, equestrian uses, and farmers markets. It is important that Fire-Rescue be ready to respond to farming and agricultural emergencies in the county. Goochland County Department of Fire-Rescue and Emergency Services is appreciative of the training opportunity.
