Gundersen Lutheran and Decorah area emergency personnel conduct farm accident drill

Students watch simulated resuce

A mock farm accident drill took place on Friday at the Lawrence and Joan Greco farm, located near Hesper. The drill focus was "grain bin drowning." Crews went through several scenarios throughout the morning practicing rescuing the victim, providing initial assessment and treatment of the victim at the scene and preparing for transfer.

The victim was iStan, a simulation mannequin that could cry, sweat, talk, bleed, gag, have varying pulse rates, and much more. The $75,000 machine could be programmed and manipulated via computer for a variety of situations.  It has in field uses such as the farm drill, but can be used as a bed patient to train doctors and nurses. It even has the capability to respond to injected medications.

Participants in the event included Gundersen Lutheran WARM  med students (Wisconsin Academy of Rural Medicine), Decorah Fire Department and First Responders, Tri-State TREX Team, Winneshiek Memorial Ambulance and the Gundersen Lutheran surgical trauma team. The Decorah Fire Department, led by Mike Ashbacher, demonstrated rescue techniques, including cutting holes in a grain bin.

The event was initiated by Dr. Kim Lansing from Gunderson Lutheran who has a special interest in rural medicine. This is the second year for such a drill at the Greco farm.  Lawrence Greco is a patient of Dr. Lansing, and as they discussed the need for training and Greco's farming enterprise, Greco said he was happy to host the event – anything to possibly prevent a tragedy from occurring on a farm.

Can iStan be saved?

Cutting into a grain bin

Mike Ashbacher demonstrates rescue device

Joan and Lawrence Greco