141st APHA Annual Meeting

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292719
Farm mapping to assist, protect and prepare emergency responders: The farm mapper project

Monday, November 4, 2013

Iris Anne Reyes, MPH , National Farm Medicine Center, Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, Marshfield, WI
Gerald Minor , Pittsville Fire and EMS, Pittsville, WI
Tami Rollins , Biomedical Informatics Research Center, Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, Marshfield, WI
Christopher Kadolph , Biomedical Informatics Research Center, Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, Marshfield, WI
Matthew Keifer, MD, MPH , National Farm Medicine Center, Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, Marshfield, WI
Andrea Mahnke, MS , Interactive Clinical Design Institute at Biomedical Informatics Research Center, Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, Marshfield, WI
Responders such as firefighters and emergency medical technicians who respond to farm emergencies often face complex and unknown environments. They may encounter hazards such as fuels, solvents, pesticides, caustics and exploding gas storage cylinders. Location of water sources and power cutoffs often vary between farms. Responders may also be unaware of dirt roads on the farm that can expedite their arrival at critical sites or covered manure pits that act as hidden hazards. A response to a farm, unless guided by someone familiar with the operation, may present a risk to responders and pose a challenge in locating the victim. This project explored the use of a web-based farm mapping application optimized for tablets and accessible via on-site matrix barcodes to provide emergency responders with hazard and resource information to agricultural operations. Secured portals were developed for both farmers and responders to populate and customize farm maps with icons. Mock responses were conducted to farm sites to test the usability of the system for first responders. Findings from the usability testing by both user types showed ease of use, clarity and accuracy of data as well as security limitations. Placing the application access points on-site lessened the burden of distributing data beyond the fire department. The results also pointed to a significant need for emergency extrication procedures for farm equipment presenting entanglement or entrapment hazards that would be easily accessible for emergency responders.

Learning Areas:
Communication and informatics
Occupational health and safety
Other professions or practice related to public health

Learning Objectives:
Identify common farm hazards that first responders face. List features unique to farms that make it challenging for emergency responders to locate victims. Describe the benefits of the farm MAPPER program for emergency responders and farmers.

Keywords: Rural Populations, Emergency

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I received graduate level training in public health and have many years of research experience in the US and abroad. In the last year, I joined the National Farm Medicine Center as a research specialist and received my OSHA safety trainer certification. Thus, it was natural for me to extend my work into occupational health and safety in agriculture and investigate ways to improve the lives of rural populations including farmers and rural emergency responders.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3405.0: HIIT Poster Session 1