(L-R)The first farm property 911 sign Northumberland County with Northumberland Federation of Agriculture regional director Bruce Buttar, Vince Brennan of Ontario Farm Association (OFA) Prince Edward County, past Northumberland Federation of Agriculture president, Allan Carruthers, Patti Stacey of Prince Edward County and the OFA member Resi Walt

Fatal farm emergency results in positive action beyond Northumberland

Article by Valerie MacDonald News Now Network

A pilot project launched in Northumberland County to add rural route numbers to properties without residences to help fire, police and ambulances to identify locations during emergencies is spreading across the province.

A recent motion was passed in the town of New Tecumseth located north of Toronto.

Since the 2018 launch of the 911 Farm Emergency Emily Project (created after Emily Trudeau, 7, died in a field after a farm accident as emergency services searched for her location), the Northumberland Federation of Agriculture has joined Northumberland County in spreading the word about the benefits of numbering farm properties without buildings.

As a result of this proactive approach, similar projects have been established in Belleville, Lennox and Addington, Prescott & Russell, Prince Edward County, Quinte West, West Nipissing, Pelham and Wainfleet.

A past president of the Northumberland Federation of Agriculture, Allan Carruthers, who is a supporter of the local pilot project, called the expansion of the emergency signage in Ontario “a good thing.”

A web site that provides information about installing 911 signs on rural properties states that farm accidents occur “in the most remote locations, making it difficult for first responders to easily locate the situation. We have found that there is a flaw in the system – not all rural property entrances have signage.”

“In the event of an emergency, no one should have to wait helplessly for first responders to find them. Time is everything, and a civic address at the entrance to a vacant farm field could make all the difference.”

For more information check out https://www.farm911.ca/welcome/about/.