DECEMBER 2010
KERN MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS
KMRC PRESENTS
Pagasa (Asa) Aguda
M
eet Pagasa (Asa)
Aguda. She has
been a nurse for 42
years. Asa gradu-
ated in the Philippines and prac-
ticed nursing in Missouri and Cali-
fornia. She has worked in Medical-
Surgical units, Recovery room, Hos-
pital supervisor, Labor and Delivery
and now works in Corrections. Asa
is certified in OB and is a BLS in-
structor certified by AHA. Asa cur-
rently lives in Delano.
Why did you join KMRC?
I joined KMRC to be able to help
our community as an RN and I
wanted to expand my skills beyond
paid work.
(Asa...Continued on page 2)
SUCCESSFUL TRAINING CONDUCTED
KMRC participated in
the California State-
wide Medical Health
Functional Exercise
on November 18 in
two ways. We tested
our Disaster Health-
care Volunteers of
California (DHV) notification system (thanks
to everyone who responded!) and we called
in RNs and Physicians to a “Staging” area
and “deployed” them to KMC and San Joa-
quin Hospitals.
All Bakersfield
hospitals, some
outlying hospitals,
clinics, managed
care and skilled
nursing facilities
participated lo-
cally and part-
nered with Ba-
kersfield Fire;
Bakersfield City
KMRC member Wendy Police; Kern
Wayne signs-in for the
County Fire; Kern
exercise. County Sheriff’s
Office; Haz Mat
units from the city, county and Environ-
mental Health; and Bomb Squads from both
Shirley Cody and Louanne Bengten pose
for posterity during the exercise behind
them is a Decon and Triage area.
( Disaster...Continued on page 2)
HOLIDAY GIVING
Looking for practical gift items? Trying to
get children involved in giving to others?
Don’t forget to give emergency prepared-
ness items! They are both inexpensive
and useful! Flashlights, extra batteries,
first aid kits, and more all make great gifts
and fit nicely into stockings. Involve the
children in selecting items and help them
learn about disaster preparedness at the
same time. Two great sites for lists of
appropriate items are www.ready.gov and
www.redcross.org. Don’t forget that the
99 Cents Store is full of useful items.
BOLTHOUSE FARMS FLU CLINIC
San Joaquin Business College, Bakersfield
Adult School and Mexican American Oppor-
tunity Foundation have offered to staff the
Dec. 2 Bolthouse Farms Flu Clinic and that
means KMRC members are “on call” as
backups. If they need assistance from
KMRC, we will send out a call.
KMRC TRAINING
Dec. 4 Training – Explosives and Blasts!
We’ll meet at the Kern County Bomb Squad
facility on Saturday morning, December 4 to
find out all about what the Kern County
Bomb Squad does and doesn’t do related to
bomb threats and explosives. The training
starts at 8:30 a.m.
and concludes at
11:00 a.m.
Don’t miss this
chance to see the
Bomb Squad’s tools,
devices and disposal techniques in action.
We will also talk about mental health issues
and injuries related to blasts and explosions.
While in the event of a local explosion KMRC
members may be called upon to help the
(Explosives...Continued on page 2)
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 REMEMBRANCE
Memorial in honor of Patrick Bowyer
Our dear KMRC member Pat Bowyer died
last year and his wife, Lark (also a KMRC
member), established a memorial in his
memory. Funds were used to purchase a
Rapid Response Kit for training and disas-
ter response. The Kit includes 4 – 15x20
colored treatment tarps (START compli-
ant), a durable carry bag, clipboards,
treatment area forms and 13 position kits
with vests and job action sheets. This is a
gift that will stand the test of time and be
used regularly for KMRC START Triage
training. Special thanks to the Bowyer
Family for this fitting tribute.
(Explosives...Continued from page 1)
victims, but this is our chance to see what
role the Bomb Squad will play.
Training will be held at the Kern County
Sheriff’s Facility, 1350 Norris Road, Bakers-
field. Pull up to the gate and you will be
directed where to park. Training will be in
Building F on the west side of the complex.
No RSVPs are needed! Two (2) CEUs will be
offered to RNs and EMT/Paramedics.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
DECEMBER
4 8:30 am—11:00 am Learn How the Kern County Bomb Squad Works!
10:00 am—11:00 am KMRC Orientation (Public Health Services Bldg.,
9 Layout : Alvin Tanicala
1800 Mt. Vernon, Ave. )
KMRC HELPS OUT IN COMMUNITY (Asa...Continued from page 1)
(Disaster...Continued from page 1) What is the highlight of being a
the city and KMRC member?
the county I think being a KMRC member is a
plus many tool to help others, meet people and
others on learn new things and an opportunity
this joint
to go to places. It's also a fun and
Exercise.
exciting experience.
The Exercise
scenario CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY TO KMRC
centered
Laverne Wally and Asa around a
Aguda relax after the drill. series of
telephone California Volunteers sent emergency sup-
bomb threats to area hospitals and clinics plies to every Medical Reserve Corps unit in
setting off a unified response system. California this week. A semi-truck pulled up
and unloaded two pop-up tents, a triage bag
The purpose of any joint Exercise is to prac- full of supplies, two trauma bags of essential
tice a coordinated response and identify disaster medical supplies, disaster hand-
areas for improvement. We learned that we books and a limited number of emergency
have more work to do in helping members bags for KMRC members who have medical
respond to the DHV system. In the event of licenses. Thank you California Volunteers!
a real emergency, it is the way you will be California Volunteers is the state office that
notified and deployed. manages programs and initiatives aimed at
increasing the number of Californians en-
NOVEMBER 8 MEETING gaged in service and volunteering.
Thanks to our speaker, John Hard-
isty, for leading KMRC members
through the steps necessary to be
ready to respond to a disas-
ter. Over 60 KMRC members en-
joyed his presentation and the
dinner!
CONTACT US
Kern Medical Reserve Corps (KMRC)
1800 Mt. Vernon Ave.,
Bakersfield, CA 93306
661-868-0194
swansonb@co.kern.ca.us
Visit www.kernpublichealth.com and click on
Kern Medical Reserve Corps.
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