New app could save lives in grain accidents

Posted on December 28, 2014

Photo by Flickr user Deewayne Nealy

By The Associated Press

BLOOMINGTON- A new app could help reduce the number of fatal grain bin entrapments that occur in Illinois.

The Illinois Corn Marketing Board and the Grain and Feed Association ofIllinois teamed up to create an app that will locate the nearest grain rescuetube. The tubes can be placed around a person who has fallen into a grain bin tohelp prevent them from drowning or being crushed by grain.

John Lee is director of the Safety, Health Environmental Services Program forthe Grain and Feed Association of Illinois. He says the app is “another tool in the toolbox if an unfortunate situation occurs.''

He says downloading the app and having it available before someone is entrapped will save time if the tubes are needed.

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