Area Farmer Injured When Sprayed w/Anhydrous Ammonia

An area farmer was injured Sunday when sprayed with anhydrous ammonia.

A 37-year-old man, whose name has not been released, was switching tanks when some anhydrous that had not bled out of a hose sprayed the man in the face and right arm. It's believed the man also inhaled some of the anhydrous. The man was airlifted to Carle Hospital in Urbana.

Sigel Fire Chief Dave Koester said the farmer and a hired hand were working a field along US Route 45, a half-mile north of Sigel. Koester said he was notified at 12:03pm Sunday of the incident. He said the farmer had made one pass on his field and switching tanks to make another pass when the incident occurred.

Koester said the man was alert and was talking with firefighters while they waited on the arrival of a helicoper. He said the local Air Evac helicopter was not available, so they had to wait about 35 minutes on another unit from Mt. Vernon. Neoga Fire and Ambulance assisted at the scene. The highway was shut down so the helicopter could land and transport the man for treatment.

Koester explained that as the anhydrous dries, it can cause swelling so his department poured water on the man until he could be flown for treatment. The hired hand had been using bottled water on the man until emergency crews arrived. Koester said the water neutralizes the anhydrous.