RF-DASH Online Course

RF-DASH Online Course Purpose

Welcome to the Rural Firefighters Delivering Agriculture Safety and Health (RF-DASH) Online Course. This course is part of the broader RF-DASH program, which aims to equip rural first responders with agricultural health and safety knowledge to prevent farm injuries and improve emergency preparedness in rural communities. The RF-DASH program is designed to give rural communities peace of mind by building trust, sharing access to essential tools, and providing practical knowledge. It brings together farmers, ranchers, agricultural workers, emergency responders, and partner organizations to prevent injuries and save lives.

This course introduces fire/EMS personnel to the RF-DASH program, provides instruction in the core RF-DASH material, and discusses two technological tools that can be used to improve farm/ranch safety. First responders completing this course will be ready to work with farmers, ranchers, and other members of their community to improve agricultural emergency prevention, preparedness, and response.

The RF-DASH Online Course includes one introductory and five core modules. Select the buttons below to learn more about each of the modules.

Course Design

Get ready to learn from the experts in each RF-DASH module! Here’s what you can expect as you work through the course:

Firefighter Ted — We’ve got a friendly animated character named Firefighter Ted. He will further clarify each module’s overall goals and explain more in-depth information.

Content Slides — There are also written lessons in the yellow slides. These slides will have pictures and graphics to help you see what we’re talking about.

Videos — You’ll watch videos that feature the actual program instructors explaining key concepts.

Activities — You’ll find different activities that will keep you involved and help you practice what you’re learning. These activities are designed to get you ready for the quiz at the end of each module.

Knowledge Checks — Throughout the course, you’ll encounter ungraded multiple-choice questions. They are meant to check your knowledge as you progress through the course.

Six Quizzes — At the end of each module, you’ll take a graded quiz to show off what you’ve learned. There is also a short quiz at the end of the course.

Passing the Course — Complete each of the course quizzes with a score of at least 70% to pass the course. Quizzes will be locked until the preceding lessons are completed.

Certificate — After completing the course, you will receive a certificate of completion that can be submitted to your organization.

Course Navigation

You can view the course modules, lessons, and quizzes by selecting the “Curriculum” tab near the top of this page. To enroll in the course, click “Start Now” in the gray banner at the top of the page. You will then be prompted to create an account. If you are already enrolled in the course, you will see “Continue” in the same location as “Start Now.”

After selecting the Curriculum tab, you will see the course content on the left side of your screen (if using a laptop). Select a Module to expand and view its contents. If you are enrolled in the course, clicking one of the items will take you to that part of the course.

After enrolling in the course, you can move through the content using the Next and Previous buttons located at the bottom of the page. You can also use the Main Menu on the left to navigate directly to the different modules or sections.

Course lessons and quizzes will unlock as you work your way through the course. For example, Module 1 Lesson 2 cannot be accessed until you complete Module 1 Lesson 1. Click the Complete button at the bottom of each lesson before moving to the next one. The course progress bar at top of the page shows how many course items you have completed and how many you have left.

Welcome

Directions: Before we explore the modules, let’s hear from the RF-DASH program director, Casper “Cap” Bendixsen.

How can the RF-DASH online course benefit your community?

This online course equips agricultural health and safety practitioners with the tools to address the challenges in implementing safer farming/ranching practices. Agricultural operations are separate, independent enterprises and most are exempt from governmental regulations. In fact, many U. S. farms and ranches (estimates as high as 90%) remain exempt from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards as they have 10 or fewer unrelated workers (Kelsey, 1994; U.S. Department of Labor, 1998). Some states have stricter OSHA programs that help reduce injuries and deaths, but farm safety experts mostly rely on non-regulatory methods to improve safety on farms.

Additionally, there are not enough trained safety consultants to provide farmers with safety recommendations. Agricultural operations are diverse. They have varying landscapes, commodity types, machinery, and structures. There are also numerous people present on any one day or during any one season. Individual agricultural sites are often separated by long distances, presenting a tangible gap that can make face-to-face interactions with many participants costly in terms of both time and money.

By training practitioners in safety and health farm practices, this course empowers you to over come these challenges. The result is improved health and safety outcomes for agricultural workers and their communities.

Train Others and Spread RF-DASH Knowledge

This online RF-DASH course is designed to equip firefighters and EMS personnel with the knowledge and skills necessary to address the unique safety and health challenges present in agricultural communities. As you process through this online course, you will understand the critical need for this specialized training and your vital role in preventing injuries and incidents on farms and ranches. You will learn to recognize the complexities of agricultural operations, identify common hazards, and effectively pre-plan for farm/ranch emergencies. Furthermore, this course will empower you to conduct farm/ranch hazard analyses, train agricultural community members in essential first aid, and build strong, collaborative relationships to promote a culture of safety within your agricultural communities. By the end of this course, you will be prepared to serve as proactive agricultural safety advocates, making a tangible difference in the well-being of those you serve.

The curriculum is developed, maintained, and supported by industry-leading experts from a variety of backgrounds, including fire/EMS, occupational medicine, research, and agricultural health and safety. Most fire departments in North America are volunteer-based and have service areas that include a large number of diverse agricultural operations. We want you to be an advocate for RF-DASH, to expand its reach to others in your community, and be a rural firefighter/EMS that delivers agricultural safety and health.

Now, let’s start with Module 0: The Origin and Development of the RF-DASH program, to learn why this program was created. Scroll to the top of your screen and select the Curriculum tab. You may need to enroll in the course first!