National First Responders Day special issue

National First Responders Day Today we honor the men and women who serve

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ct. 28 is National First Responders Day. The Bakersfield Californian is taking the time to salute the women and men who serve our community day in and day out. These are the people who vow to take immediate action to save life and property when it matters most.

No matter their badge or agency, they have made a commitment to serve others, often when people are suffering most.

During this COVID-19 pandemic, we decided to also include those working in hospitals to save lives.

We invite you to share in saying “thank you� to all those who are going above and beyond the call of duty during these particularly difficult times.

ALEX HORVATH / THE CALIFORNIAN

Adventist Health Bakersfield employees take cellphone videos and photos of a drive-by parade put on by local first responders in front of the hospital on Chester Avenue earlier this year.

BPD officers serve community in many ways

BY EMA SASIC

The Bakersfield Californian

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

N AT I O N A L F I R ST R E S P O N D E R S DAY

esasic@bakersfield.com

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hether they’re wearing the uniform or not, Bakersfield Police Department officers are ready to respond to the call and service their communities in several ways.

SGT. CHRISTOPHER BAGBY Bagby, who has been employed with BPD for nearly two decades, never could have imagined he would be a first responder during a pandemic. More than that, he never imagined he would be charged with researching, developing and implementing a comprehensive plan to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 among his fellow employees and the public.

But he was the person for the job.

He is currently assigned to the department’s Quality Assurance Unit, which measure the department’s performance internally and externally and helps make improvements when needed, he explained.

“The QA unit was the ideal place to deal with the pandemic,” Bagby explained. “We’re used to doing research and evaluating where we’re at.”

Back in February and March when information on coronavirus was being shared, Bagby and his team recognized they did not want officers to be “vectors of transmission” among themselves and the community. And since mortality numbers were between 5 percent and 7 percent at that time, the odds of having employees contract the virus and possible die from it “were very real.”

Bagby said the team payed attention to information provided by the Department of Homeland Security and how other countries, such as China and South Korea, were responding to COVID-19.

That helped the depart-

ment create its comprehensive plan on how to best keep officers and the community safe.

Since the beginning of April, explained Bagby, BPD officers have been wearing face coverings. The department’s mitigation plan consists of four steps — prevention, exposure control, supplying personal protective equipment and ongoing research and planning — which includes officers getting their temperatures checked daily, answering screening questions, educating BPD employees on COVID-19 symptoms, contact tracing if an officer is exposed and keeping up on safety guidelines and public health protocols.

The unit was also there to provide care and compassion to employees who were having a difficult time adjusting to the “new normal,” as many have described it. Bagby said the unit focused on helping employees secure items they couldn’t find in stores and discussed “facts instead of fear, peace instead of panic” to help alleviate stress.

“My staff and people in city risk management, human resources and fire leadership ... from midMarch until late-August, in some capacity, they were working 24/7,” Bagby said.

“Somebody does have to do it. We’ve been lucky to have solid folks in charge.”

SENIOR OFFICER MATT TRAMEL Senior Officer Tramel has seen plenty since joining BPD 13 years ago, and at times that has included tragedy, disaster and despair.

Jan. 11 could have been another one of those bad days, but Tramel was at the right place at the right time, and the right person to help a family in distress.

Mid-morning that day, Tramel and other BPD of-

PHOTO COURTESY BPD

The Bakersfield Police Department’s COVID-19 response team, from left, officer Christina Perkins, Detective Steven Pace, Capt. Jason Matson, clerk typist II Patty Rodriguez, Detective Robert Tyo, clerk typist II Nancy Fava and Sgt. Chris Bagby. Other individuals involved in the team include Lt. Brian Holcombe, Lt. Jeff Burdick, Detective John Billdt and officer Teri Harless.

ficers responded to a call in southeast Bakersfield regarding an ambulance request for a child not breathing. Tramel said he is usually not on that side of town during his shifts, but “God saw right for me to be at the right spot at the right time.”

Upon arrival, officers found a 2-month-old child in distress.

“I was met there by the family members and she was holding this little teeny tiny boy. He was just the smallest little thing,” Tramel said. “He was showing signs he wasn’t breathing, and he was in real bad shape.”

Officer Victoria Estes first examined the child before handing him off to Tramel and officer Christopher Mesa. After Tramel checked for vitals, finding no pulse, he said he did what he was trained to do: he began performing CPR on the infant.

After a few minutes, Tramel said, the baby began to burp, cry and wiggle his arms. But just as quickly

PHOTO COURTESY MATT TRAMEL

Bakersfield Police Department officers, from left, Victoria Estes, Matt Tramel, Christopher Mesa and Edgar Calderon.

as came back, he stopped breathing again. Again, Tramel began to perform CPR until he determined the child’s heart was beating.

Officers Estes, Mesa and Edgar Calderon performed other tasks as well, such as helping family members

stay calm and assisting Tramel.

By that point, Bakersfield Fire Department and Hall Ambulance personnel arrived and assumed lifesaving measures. The child was taken to a hospital and survived.

Tramel said that was a very humbling moment for him, and one that still makes him emotional to this day. As a father of four himself, he couldn’t help but think of his own chil Please see BPD | 2

BY EMA SASIC esasic@bakersfield.com

PHOTO COURTESY BRAXTON TUNE

Bakersfield Police Department officer Braxton Tune, wearing the Spider-Man costume, has encouraged many of his fellow BPD officers to volunteer their time.

BPD

Continued from PAGE 3

When officer Tune decided to pursue law enforcement, he knew wearing an officer’s uniform would allow him to do good in his community, both on and off the clock.

Growing up, Tune said, he spent time with his uncle with special needs and other indi-

Ema Sasic can be reached at 661395-7392. Follow her on Twitter: @ema_sasic.

The Bakersfield Californian

OFFICER BRAXTON TUNE

officers involved in numerous fundraisers and events. Some of the events they participate include tip-a-cop, bowling competitions, Community Helper Days and A Night to Shine.

“The officers that come with me, they’re all volunteers.

They’re not there for a check, it’s because it’s a good and right thing to do,” Tune said.

Because of Tune’s passion and efforts, BPD has received several awards from the Special Olympics of California for most runners for the torch run, most money raised throughout the year and most involved police department.

The awards and recognition are nice, but what’s more important to Tune is raising awareness and building a relationship between the special needs community and law enforcement.

His main priority is making sure individuals are comfortable and don’t fear officers.

“I don’t want them to ever shy away from us or be scared of us, especially if they’re in a bad situation,” Tune explained. “If they see me, whether it’s monthly, and they keep seeing me, I want them to feel comfortable. If they see other officers later, they’re not scared.”

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

dren that day, and many other infants who were not as lucky.

But by acting quickly and calmly, Tramel was able to change a family’s life forever.

“The teamwork that my guys put in and God put me there in that moment to just simply to help that family, it made all the difference in the world,” he said.

“All the bad days don’t seem so tough when you draw inspiration from a day like that.”

A few months ago, he stopped by the home to check in on the baby boy. A family member burst into tears, he explained, thanking Tramel for his lifesaving actions. They then started a video chat, and Tramel saw the baby boy standing and bouncing around his bed, full of life.

“I was in full tears. We have really rough days in this job and very rarely does it turn out as we hope or see in the movies.”

viduals with disabilities. When he was looking for organizations to get involved in after he joined the force, Special Olympics seemed like the perfect match.

“I’m a little selfish when it comes to it. There’s no better place to feel loved,” Tune explained. “From the parents to guardians to whoever is involved, I’ve never been anywhere where I got so much love and to watch them with everybody else it’s nothing but love.”

During his first year with the BPD, he volunteered for the Special Olympics Torch run and a Special Olympics bowling tournament.

Over the years, he has become passionate about service and began to also reach out to the HEARTS Foundation and Richardson Center to get involved in a positive way. Even when he was injured one year and couldn’t wear his uniform, he wanted to be there for the special needs community and show them love and support.

So he took on a new persona: Spider-Man. That made quite an impression on children, he explained, that now they want Spider-Man to be at events, not officer Tune.

Soon he’ll have a custom Spider-Man suit equipped with a BPD badge.

He has even gotten his fellow

A first responder never knows what his or her shift may bring.

For Kern County Sheriff’s Office deputies Diego Gonzalez and Kenneth Muller, they thought the early hours of Dec. 18, 2019, would be fairly quiet, nothing far from the ordinary.

“I was sitting in my patrol car, trying to stay awake,” Muller recalled. He has been a deputy for eight years and works often with Gonzalez, with whom he said he has a strong bond.

“We’re able to sync with each other. If I’m thinking one thing, he’s thinking two steps ahead,” Muller explained. “We complement each other, and that’s so important especially when you have a complicated and strenuous Kenneth Muller job like ours.”

The night quickly changed, however, when the two received information from their dispatcher around 2 a.m. that there was a fire down the street.

Thinking fire trucks and personnel were already on the scene, the two headed toward the fire to provide additional assistance.

It ended up just being them and a fast-growing blaze on the 5200 block of Montecito Drive.

Neighbors informed the two that an elderly couple, both in their 70s, were nowhere to be found and likely still inside the house.

Muller and Gonzalez headed toward the blaze, where there was low visibility from all the smoke.

As they approached the home, they saw the silhouette of a wheelchair outside the front door.

“She was just sitting there and enshrouded by the smoke,” Muller recalled. According to the KCSO Facebook page, the woman was holding a dog as well.

While they got the woman to safety, her husband was still

nowhere to be found. Neighbors suggested checking the backyard. By this point, the blaze was continuing to grow larger and larger, and getting to the backyard wasn’t going to be easy.

On the east side of the house, there was no gate, just a shared fence with the neighbor, Muller explained. Gonzalez jumped over the fence to get to the backyard, where he saw the man, who appeared to be disoriented, attempting to put out the fire the best he could with a garden hose.

“He probably lived in there for generations,” Muller said.

Seeing there was no way for this man to hoist himself over the fence, Muller ended up ripping the fence, all thanks to his adrenaline-fueled strength.

The residents and the depuDiego Gonzalez ties were not injured during the fire. Muller said he’s still unsure what caused the blaze, but it’s likely it originated in the garage.

The whole rescue lasted about five minutes.

Since the incident, Muller said he has driven past the scene occasionally to see construction progress on the couple’s new home.

That day will forever be memorable for Muller, he explained, and it showed him that law enforcement officials may be called upon to respond to emergencies outside their normal duties.

Even though they were able to save two individuals, they don’t feel like they’re heroes. They’re just doing their jobs.

“Anybody in my situation in my department, they would have done the same thing,” Muller said. “I’m thankful that we were able to prevent this story from being tragic.”

“You enter this job knowing that you’re going to put yourself in dangerous situations and potentially make the ultimate sacrifice,” he added.

N AT I O N A L F I R ST R E S P O N D E R S DAY

When duty calls, there’s no stopping KCSO deputies

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Putting mental health at the forefront

BY EMA SASIC eff Fariss is no stranger to the bad days that come with being a first responder.

He also knows far too well what it’s like dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder, and not seeking help.

Fariss, then a field supervisor with Hall Ambulance, was one of the first individuals who responded to the 2006 Maple Avenue explosion. According to a news story from The Californian, a group of children had been playing with a 40 mm military round owned by an uncle of one of the children, who thought the gunpowder had been removed from the explosive.

The round detonated, killing one 7 year old at the scene, and another 7 year old later at Kern Medical.

He also helped his fellow paramedic and friend after they had been hit by a car.

Despite all the trauma those incidents have caused, Fariss chose not to seek help, mainly because of the stigma attached to it.

“Back in my day, the stigma that’s out there says ‘Suck it up, buttercup, this is the job you wanted, deal with it,’” he explained. “That is absolutely the worst possible advice to give somebody, and that has led to the increasing suicide rate (among first responders).”

Today, he is the Emergency Medical Services program manager for Kern County Public Health Services Department Services, and it’s his mission to help other first responders get the mental health services they need.

According to statistics from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, it is estimated that 30 percent of first responders develop behavioral health conditions, such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, compared with 20 percent in the general population. A study shows that firefighters were reported to have higher suicide attempt and ideation rates than the general population. Additionally, estimates suggest between 125 and 300 police officers across the country die by suicide every year.

Despite these numbers, first responders still have a hard time

The Bakersfield Californian

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

N AT I O N A L F I R ST R E S P O N D E R S DAY

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HOTLINES Crisis Hotline: 1-800-991-5272 Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 Substance Use Division Access Line: 1-866-266-4898

ALEX HORVATH / THE CALIFORNIAN

Kern County Fire Capt. Robert Hudson spoke about his son at the first Mental Health Symposium at Bakersfield College in 2019.

ALEX HORVATH / THE CALIFORNIAN

California National Guard Maj. Dustin Harris spoke during the first Mental Health Symposium at Bakersfield College in 2019.

reaching out to others and finding the resources they need. The stigma attached to mental health is still one that deters many from seeking help.

Veronica Munoz, disaster re-

sponse coordinator for Kern Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, described keeping trauma and distressing moments bottled down like a jack in the box.

“Every event that you experi-

ence and don’t allow yourself to process is like turning the knob tighter. You don’t know which turn of the knob will cause it to come out,” she explained.

One first responder, she recalled, experienced four deaths in one shift. At one accident scene, he witnessed a dead horse, which brought back many childhood memories of a horse and his experiences with it. That accident scene was the one that got to him emotionally.

“We never know which event or experience will trigger that release of emotion,” Munoz said. “Our goal is to help folks not suppress them and have them build up.”

Knowing what first responders see on a daily basis and keep inside, Kern County has tried to break down the stigma associated with mental health and asking for help.

Last year, the first Mental Health Symposium was put on to help first responders and com-

munity members recognize the signs and symptoms of depression and PTSD. Various speakers shared their experiences, including a San Diego firefighter who was stabbed while on duty. He healed physically, but soon realized he had post-traumatic stress disorder, having nightmares and becoming jumpy.

He decided to ask for mental health help and encouraged other first responders to do the same.

“One of my closest friends in the field I ran into and I asked her after the presentations what she thought and she said she couldn’t stop crying,” explained Fariss, who was one of the organizers.

“It was very emotional for a lot of people and it hit home.”

Among the 300 attendees who participated in the event, Fariss said several decided to reach out for help that day, and the number has grown since.

For the first time in 2018, a request was made statewide to help law enforcement officials who went through distress trying to evacuate victims following the Camp Fire in Northern California, and BHRS officials responded to the call, which helped shed light on the subject.

Munoz added BHRS has a certificated critical incident stress management team ready to help first responders whenever necessary. She also said a mobile evaluation team, which corresponds with law enforcement, heard officers discussing mental health out in the open, which “could take the shadow off of seeking mental health services.”

“Our heroes are heroes. They always feel the services are for someone else who may need it more, and they’re used to putting others first that it’s difficult to seek the services,” Munoz said.

But “there’s enough sunshine for all of us out there.”

For more information, visit https://www.kernbhrs.org/

The Bakersfield Californian

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

N AT I O N A L F I R ST R E S P O N D E R S DAY

My appreciation and gratitude for first responders grows every day

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fter having to retire early as a police officer (due to being shot in the line of duty), I decided to move to Washington state and enjoy watching my son play collegiate baseball on scholarship and try to place the shooting and nightmares in a better frame of mind.

Well, as in most cases, once a police officer, always a police officer.

I was easily persuaded to join a sheriff department as a non-sworn deputy and assist in major incident investigations and eventually within their Medical Examiner’s department as their chief investigator.

During this period, it was evident that the Pacific Northwest could become a training center for all first responders (police, fire, paramedics, military, security, medical, etc.) at one facility, all on the same page in the event of a national disaster. I became one of the main proponents and lobbyists for this project.

On one trip, I was scheduled to give a presentation at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., and on the morning of this, I was asked to switch and do the same for another branch of government at a different complex. As I was preparing for my presentation, I discovered I would need additional materials due to the attendance quickly growing. I left the facility and drove back to my hotel to retrieve such and quickly returned. As I was parking in the north side parking area, an extremely loud and jarring explosion

HOUSTON URSERY

occurred in the building.

I had just returned to The Pentagon at 9:37 a.m. on Sept. 11, 2001.

Thinking this was a bomb (I was unaware of the attacks in New York), I started to run toward the same entrance I had left from, knowing I could access the courtyard from there. As I made my way through the courtyard, I witnessed countless people fleeing the building into the courtyard, many on fire. Those nearest me began to roll on the grass and extinguish the flames.

However, those who were drenched with jet fuel would never be so fortunate. Again, believing this was a bomb, I tried to assist those in the courtyard and while doing so, came upon a familiar face — that of a member on our presentation team. He conveyed to me the situation in New York as we both met up with on-scene Pentagon firefighters.

As we entered the building from the courtyard, the smoke was at zero visibility and water was gushing down the hallways.

Keep in mind that The Pentagon is five buildings wedged together. Each “ring” being a separate structure, separated by small throughways (alleys) in between. As I entered

PHOTO COURTESY HOUSTON URSERY

On Sept. 12, 2001, Houston Ursery was assigned to a rescue team to assist in recovery efforts at the Pentagon.

❚❚One of the most vivid impacts I

will forever remember are the first responders who unselfishly and with great perseverance worked to save others. Their relentless sacrifices and determinations were throughout the entire ordeal, and my appreciation and gratitude only grew each day as I either worked directly with them or at a distance.

each ring (A through E) on the Mall Entrance side, I was sloshing through debris and above ankle water that I soon realized was not water, but rather jet fuel! Knowing the volatility

of jet fuel and how hot it will burn, I was shocked to not see flames. That quickly changed when I approached closer to the impact site. Periodically, flames would ignite, flare

to a giant ball and then settle down to an off and on flame.

The remaining day was full of terror, anxiety and anger. At one point, we were ordered to evacuate due to another plane coming in. That started extreme panic with survivors and rescuers scrambling to get out. As I ran to the open courtyard, I could hear the sound of a jet aircraft, but it didn’t sound like an airliner. From my Air Force career, I recognized the sound of a fighter jet and sure enough, I caught a glimpse of a U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter, circling above and dipping its wings. In relief, I glanced around the grass and trees in the

courtyard and witnessed several people on their knees and praying.

However, one of the most vivid impacts I will forever remember are the first responders who unselfishly and with great perseverance worked to save others. Their relentless sacrifices and determinations were throughout the entire ordeal, and my appreciation and gratitude only grew each day as I either worked directly with them or at a distance.

Houston Ursery grew up in Wasco, served in the U.S. Air Force and was a police officer with the Cal State Bakersfield Police Department.

N AT I O N A L F I R ST R E S P O N D E R S DAY Wednesday, October 28, 2020 The Bakersfield Californian

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N AT I O N A L F I R ST R E S P O N D E R S DAY Wednesday, October 28, 2020 The Bakersfield Californian

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Community policing, partnerships make our work successful

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eputy sheriffs from Kern County have a unique perspective when it comes to being a first responder.

The county is 8,139 square miles, which means a deputy in Rosamond, Frazier Park, Tehachapi, etc., will be first on scene knowing their backup may be some distance away.

An example: Last year a deputy responded to a petty theft in an outlying area. Information was the suspect was gone. While the deputy was taking the report, the suspect returned. As the deputy tried to affect the arrest, he was met with resistance.

This altercation continued for more than20 minutes until his back-up arrived. This situation is not unique. So deputies from Kern have learned de-escalation techniques long before it was

fashionable. also want their input on what our Throughout the year, deputies communities want and need. We have thousands of contacts with are really excited about this new the public and do some really venture. good things that never meet the We also have a 12-week citizen media threshold. But academy that gives the few negatives will. citizens insights on This can be demoralwhat we do. Across this county we have izing for employees.

15 substations to When you thank a help us serve outlying first responder for communities. With what they do, it goes a more than 1,200 emlong way.

Community policployees, patrol isn’t our only function. ing is what makes us We have the coroner successful. We know DONNY function that includes without the public YOUNGBLOOD the public adminsupport we are ineffective. Recently we istrator aspect. We formed a Community Advisory have a division that serves civil committee comprised of citizens processes. We are bailiffs, detecfrom across our county. We hope tives, Search and Rescue, air unit, to integrate them into helping us internal affairs, staff several jails, with policies and procedures. We a Sheriff’s Activity League and

Your Kern County firefighters are physically, mentally ready to serve

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ore than 35 years ago, in June of 1985, my friend’s father asked me to be a seasonal firefighter at his fire station in Mojave. Although my uncle had been a firefighter, at 19 years old, I had never given a thought to a career. During that summer, I developed “the calling.”

I could not believe I had found a career where I could serve my community, was expected to be physically fit, and would be counted on to make smart decisions every day. Becoming a firefighter became my goal. Little did I know what a challenge it would become.

After taking required firefighter classes and gaining work experience, I had several options of where I could apply to be a firefighter. I chose the Kern County Fire Department because it is an all-hazard (structure fire, wildland fire, earthquake,

flood, vehicle extrication, medical assistance and many more) fire department that serves a huge geographic area. In addition to the unincorporated areas of Kern County, the Kern County Fire Department also serves the cities of Arvin, Delano, Maricopa, McFarland, Ridgecrest, Shafter, Taft, Tehachapi, and Wasco. We also serve the citizens of Bakersfield City through a Joint Powers Agreement that allows reciprocating assistance between the Bakersfield City Fire Department and Kern County Fire.

Kern County covers an area of more than 800,000 square miles. Such a large area produces unique challenges. Kern County has different geographic areas with a variety of emergency types. We have rolling hills, mountains, desert, metropolitan areas, rivers and many small communities

TBC

Six-year-old Remmy Tapia helps Kern County Sheriff’s Deputy Dan Willis unload their gift cart during the 2019 Shop with a Cop event.

much, much more. I encourage our citizens to get to know your deputy sheriffs. I also encourage deputies to live in and integrate themselves in the community they serve. The more we are a part of the community, the more effective we become.

Having been in this office for many years, I have seen many changes. Some good, some not so good, but we adapt. We don’t do it alone. We have so many partners across this county who are also

— some separated by great distances.

This distance means that the initial first responders arriving on scene are often by themselves for upwards of 30 minutes.

SEAN FRALEY Over the past several years, the Kern County Fire Department has faced many challenges. The cause of the challenges and the solutions to the challenge can be debated. What cannot be refuted is that over the years, the amount of time your Kern County Fire Department has spent mitigating emergencies has significantly risen. In 2019, Kern County Fire equipment responded to emergencies totaling almost 62,000 hours (there are 8,760 hours in a year). Almost half of those hours were at fires. The number of calls rose 5.89 percent in that same year. In 2019, the Emergency Communications Center handled 436,962 calls. That is an average of 1,197 calls per day! Incredible!

This year, the world has been affected by the COVID-19 virus. Our biggest fear was that we would have a day when so many of our personnel were ill that we would not

first responders.

Having a day for first responders is exciting and helps them understand that even though a lot of their job is negative, we are still supported overwhelmingly by the community we serve. For that we are grateful. From all the employees of the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, thank you!!!

Donny Youngblood is the sheriff-coroner-public administrator of Kern County.

be able to provide the service we strive to provide. Early in the pandemic, we developed policies and procedures to reduce the risk to our first responders. These are tedious and time consuming, yet our firefighters have adhered to them, day in and day out. At the time of this writing, only six of our firefighters have become ill.

Fortunately, they have experienced mild to moderate symptoms and are already back serving our community.

Thirty-five years have flown by in the blink of an eye. As the deputy chief of operations, I take great pride in knowing that we have one of the best all-hazard departments in the country. Your Kern County firefighters are ready, both physically and mentally, to mitigate any emergency incident.

I am often thanked for my service. While thankful when this happens, I am always humbled and slightly embarrassed. Our families are who have earned the real thanks. They “loan” their loved ones to protect and serve for sometimes a month straight. So next time you meet a child or significant other of a firefighter, please take a second to tell them “thank you for your service!”

Sean Fraley is deputy chief of operations of the Kern County Fire Department.

Bakersfield Fire Department’s N AT I O N A L F I R ST R E S P O N D E R S DAY

mission is to protect, engage, and inspire a safe community while delivering legendary customer service.

Wednesday, October 28, 2020 The Bakersfield Californian

Professionalism Respect Integrity Dedication Excellence

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N AT I O N A L F I R ST R E S P O N D E R S DAY Wednesday, October 28, 2020 The Bakersfield Californian

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CALIFORNIAN FILE PHOTO

ABOVE: Bakersfield Fire Department 20-1 graduates take the Oath of Office during the recruit Firefighter Academy graduation at Fire Station 15. RIGHT: Bakersfield Fire Department battled a structure fire on the 100 block of Jones Street on Aug. 17.

ALEX HORVATH / THE CALIFORNIAN

Bakersfield Fire takes PRIDE in its service T he Bakersfield Fire Department core values are encompassed in the acronym PRIDE, which stands for Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Dedication and Excellence. Our core values are critically important to our everyday activities, and they are the standard by which we conduct and operate as an organization.

Professionalism: When our customers call upon us, we show up equipped and capable of handling any assignment or task given, because Bakersfield firefighters are trained to do so no matter the size or severity of the incident. Immediately upon calling 9-1-1, your initial contact is with a BFD dispatcher who is there to not only assist with your emergency, but to bring a level of comfort and calmness to most any situation.

Respect: Through equitable and ethical treatment you will be valued as our customer. We will be steadfast in an unbiased delivery of care and a duty to act in order to benefit those we serve.

Integrity: The BFD will not compromise quality customer service or concede to a

standard of care that is less than extraordinary. Our firefighters and dispatchers will be principled, unified, and sincere in providing careful attention to detail while exhibiting thoughtfulness and understanding.

Dedication: Your Bakersfield Fire Department is committed to this community through continued efforts to not only work in the City of Bakersfield, but to give back ANTHONY in a special way.

GALAGAZA Through our four internal nonprofits and various charitable events, Bakersfield firefighters and dispatchers remain heavily engaged in our community.

Excellence: We continually chase perfection in order to provide superior service to the residents of Bakersfield. It is our aspiration to improve and perform

at the highest level, in order to forge an extraordinary fire agency through a focus on quality all-risk service that exceeds our customer’s expectations.

With that in mind, the COVID-19 spread placed added responsibility and awareness that was an unexpected burden on department personnel. With numerous fire agencies experiencing both internal and external issues in regard to the COVID-19 spread, locally it created a stress in call volume and staffing alike. This pandemic has affected our personnel both professionally as well as personally. Additionally, the wildland fire season throughout the state will undoubtedly have many departments spread thin with Bakersfield firefighters participating exhaustibly in an effort to assist in extinguishing the numerous active wildfires.

Sadly, the reality of our profession was brought into tragic view on Feb. 18, 2020, when Fire Capt. Ray Figueroa and Firefighter Patrick Jones of the Porterville Fire Department paid the ultimate sacrifice battling a massive fire at the Porterville

City Library. Later that month, hundreds of firefighters from throughout California, including your Bakersfield firefighters, gathered in formation to pay their respects to our fallen brothers.

In summary, it has been an extremely active and challenging year for Bakersfield firefighters. They have endured so much over the last year; however, they continue to deliver customer service that is professional, positive and unparalleled. This has proven to be a year of resilience, fortitude, sleepless nights, struggle, heightened alertness, and even tragedy in our profession.

I am honored to be a part of an organization that is painstakingly skillful and profoundly personal in the care they deliver to the community regardless of the perilous issues surrounding them. I swell with pride to be a part of this organization and to work alongside such brave men and women who collectively make up your Bakersfield Fire Department.

Anthony Galagaza is chief of the Bakersfield Fire Department.

Your CHP is focused on Response begins safety, service, security with local dispatchers THE BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN

Have you ever called 9-1-1?

Chances are you have, as the National Emergency Number Association says California dispatchers answer approximately 27 million 9-1-1 calls per year.

Let that number sink in.

The association says public safety dispatchers play a vital role in the state’s emergency response chain, and are responsible for being first to respond during life-threatening accidents, wildfires, active shooter situations and potential suicides.

In other words, much of the time a dispatcher is your link to getting an officer, deputy, firefighter, paramedic, EMT or other first responder at the door of your home or business, or at any other emergency scene.

And now starting this year, public safety dispatchers in California are considered first responders after Assembly Bill 1945 was signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Assemblyman Rudy Salas introduced the legislation after the idea

was brought to him by a Kings County dispatcher.

“This is a historic day for the thousands of emergency dispatchers who call California home,” Salas said earlier this year in a news release from his office. “For years, dispatchers have been misclassified under titles that do not reflect the importance of the life-saving work they perform every day.”

It’s a highly trained person who answers your call, often providing life-saving directions on the phone before others can arrive in person.

The federal government currently describes dispatchers as an “administrative” or “clerical” occupation. Not quite, dispatchers know.

Lee Ann Magoski, an emergency nurse practitioner and president of the National Emergency Number Association, said that “for too long, the women and men of 9-1-1 have gone unrecognized as the first of the first responders, answering the call for help 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.”

N AT I O N A L F I R ST R E S P O N D E R S DAY

A

Wednesday, October 28, 2020 The Bakersfield Californian

s we welcomed the year 2020, like her destination. any new year, we had high hopes for Second, recently one of our public a prosperous new beginning. At this safety dispatchers received a 911 call at the late point in 2020, we now clearly underBakersfield center from an individual in distress. The individual was going through stand there are significant new challenges a mental health crisis, had a weapon, and in the health and safety of our state, our was threatening harm to himself and othfamilies, and each individual member of our community. ers. Our dispatcher remained calm, courThese events which have occurred up teous, caring, and committed to the indito this point in 2020 have emphasized the vidual in crisis. Because of our dispatcher’s need for increased focus on public service approach and the clearly communicated and safety in our community. As memconcern for this individual, and with the teamwork of her peers, officers were able bers of the California Highway Patrol, we to locate the individual in distress, and believe with unforeseen challenges in our ensure the proper help and resources were community and as public servants, we provided. Because of the care of a CHP must look for increased opportunities to public safety dispatcher and other public serve our community. servants, this individual made it through The CHP consists of members of our the crisis. community, including: publicly visible Third, during a recent night shift, uniformed officers, the undetected underwhile actively patrolling an cover task force members, the unincorporated neighborcalming and helpful voices of public safety dispatchers, the hood in Kern County, two administrative field support CHP partner officers encounstaff who make it all work betered a man while he was actively burglarizing an unochind the scenes, and all our other vital employees who cupied vehicle. The man tried support the primary functions to flee the scene on foot. Our of public service. As a departofficers gave chase and after a foot pursuit the officers ment, we are committed to RICHARD were able to take the man into doing everything in our power GOULDING custody. The officers followed to be part of the solutions in up with the vehicle owner our community by focusing on and ensured the stolen property was remaking a difference.

I would like to provide a few examples of turned. Because of the proactive efforts recent specific efforts which have made a of these officers, the suspect was appredifference in the lives of the individuals we hended and property was safeguarded serve in our community: and returned to the victim.

First, during the summer months, one These examples are just some of the of our officers noticed a car pulled over on few that demonstrate the mission of the the side of Highway 99, near White Lane.

California Highway Patrol in action in our The elderly woman driver was confused community — “to provide the highest level and unsure how to get home after visiting of safety, service, and security.” a friend in Los Angeles. She had outlived The California Highway Patrol has proher adult children, did not have any comvided services like these every day since it was established in 1929. We are committed munication devices, was unaccompanied by others who could provide her support at to providing consistent public service to all members of our community and improvthat moment, and she lived hours away in Oakland. ing our ability to do so through enhanced The officers who contacted her recefforts.

While 2020 has demonstrated increased ognized her desperate situation and challenges, the California Highway Patrol provided her a ride to the Bakersfield has demonstrated consistency during CHP office. After many efforts to contact times of change and has increased efforts possible friends, it was determined the to make a difference every day. We are elderly driver had no way to safely get grateful to be members of this community home. Our officers coordinated with and for the ongoing support in our efforts numerous CHP officers between the Bato serve. kersfield and Oakland areas to transport her safely to her residence. After several Lt. Richard Goulding is acting commander hours of transportation, with the caring assistance of numerous CHP officers, the of the Bakersfield Area California Highway Patrol. elderly woman ultimately arrived safe at

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N AT I O N A L F I R ST R E S P O N D E R S DAY Wednesday, October 28, 2020 The Bakersfield Californian

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ALEX HORVATH / THE CALIFORNIAN

LEFT: Bakersfield Police officer S. Pace, wearing a camera, checks the background of a homeless person in 2019. ABOVE: Bakersfield Police Department officers Justin Enns and Eli Brown are on patrol on Ming Avenue.

BPD holds fast to guiding values E

of the loss of a child due to a ven with several months senseless shooting, respond to still to go, with conviction I can say that 2020 has been a an act of domestic violence that breaks a home, or bring notificayear of struggle. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every tion to a worried family member aspect of our community, from that their loved one is not going business to home life, with to be coming home after a tragic some families carrying the accident. These events are freheavier burden of loved ones quently how we as law enforcelost. Wildfires have ravaged our ment officers come into people’s state, displacing famlives.

As Theodore Rooilies, further impacting our air quality in sevelt once said, “No the valley. National man needs sympaprotests regarding thy because he has police brutality have to work, because occurred throughhe has a burden to carry. Far and out the country, away the best prize including in our city, that life offers is and brought certain GREG TERRY the chance to work critical issues about hard at work worth law enforcement and doing.” Compassion for our the community we serve to the fellow humans is what makes forefront. this burden easier and makes Police work is unlike any other the work worth doing. service industry. In law enforceDuring local protests regardment the customer isn’t always right. We are rarely the “bearers ing police brutality, I watched of good news.” We show up on as officers were spit on, taunted what may be the worst day of a and demeaned by a small group person’s life. We may bring news of agitators among a larger

ALEX HORVATH / THE CALIFORNIAN

Bakersfield Police officer V. Coleman selects toys to add to the baskets he will deliver to needy families for the 2019 Family to Family Christmas Baskets Giveaway program.

group of peaceful protestors.

Professionalism allowed the officers to see beyond the hateful actions of a few and see the true hurt and anger of the larger whole.

As I reflect on my first few

months as police chief for National First Responders Day, I recognize the amazing work of ALL of our first responders in law enforcement, fire services, emergency medical services, mental health and

dispatch. I am humbled by their selfless service, courage and professionalism.

With the full deployment of body cameras throughout your Bakersfield Police Department, I have had the opportunity to get a first-hand look at our interactions with the public we serve. Without personal accountability we cannot grow nor can we ever improve. Accountability to the community led to the deployment of body worn cameras, the formation of the BPD — Community Collaborative and the work to create a culture of continuous improvement.

As police we look to the future, learn from the past and I pledge we will hold fast to our guiding values of compassion, professionalism and accountability to continue to partner with our community to protect the lives and property of the people we serve.

Greg Terry is chief of the Bakersfield Police Department.

THANK YOU FIRST RESPONDERS!

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N AT I O N A L F I R ST R E S P O N D E R S DAY Wednesday, October 28, 2020 The Bakersfield Californian

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The Bakersfield Californian

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

N AT I O N A L F I R ST R E S P O N D E R S DAY

Our first responders stand tall in the face of tragedy

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s I sit down with my laptop to write this, I am watching the coverage, remembering the tragic events of 19 years ago that unfolded before our eyes on Sept. 11. In the face of tragedy, America witnessed first responders at their finest.

Instead of running away, paramedics, EMTs, firefighters and law enforcement personnel responded toward the face of danger to rescue and care for those in immediate need.

At the time, Hall Ambulance had just completed its first EMT Academy. When recruitment for the second class was underway, we were overwhelmed by the number of applicants who were inspired to start their EMS career due to 9/11.

LAVONNE Fast-forward to 2020, and once again, the spotlight has refocused on first responders and other essential workers carrying the load to keep America moving. Personally, I will be grateful to bid 2020 farewell, but I could not do so without acknowledging the extraordinary efforts and commitment exhibited by every Hall Ambulance employee. The pandemic has tested our company’s limits, but our paramedics, EMTs, RNs, dispatchers, and support staff have

pushed back.

Early on, leadership took the pandemic seriously by creating an internal task force to plot Hall Ambulance’s approach to safeguarding its employees and the communities served. Non-medical, administrative and business office staff began working remotely. Employees were required and continue to participate in a wellness check at the start of their shift. Our facilities-maintenance division took on the monumental task of decontaminating ambulances following the transport of a COVID-19 patient.

Our ambulance and critical care transport crews have faced the pandemic’s extra burden while continuing to respond to typical 911 requests.

C. HALL They have endured donning personal protective equipment (PPE), often multiple times each shift, during successive heatwaves. They have tolerated even more significant offload delays at local hospitals — waiting to transfer patient care so that they can be available for the next call for help. And despite their best sanitization efforts, they have carried the fear of accidentally taking the virus home to their loved ones. Yet, as the EMS professionals they are, they have

Answering the call

A

t the District Attorney’s Office, we have a unique perspective on the ways that first responders hold our community together every day. In reviewing evidence for trials, we hear the panicked voices of 9-1-1 callers desperately crying out for help. We see photographs and videos of violent crime scenes, the remnants of DUI fatality crashes, and in our review of evidence, we see countless heroic efforts performed by first responders amidst horrific circumstances.

Our role, however, is secondary – it often occurs after first responders are called in to address emergencies that even well-meaning members of the community would want nothing to do with.

Night after night, while many of us sleep safely at home, it is our first responders who clean up the carnage left upon our highways by drunk drivers. When another senseless shooting occurs over idiotic gang rivalries, it is our first responders who respond to tend to the victims and bystanders caught in the crossfire. And when an active shooter sets a course to inflict as much indiscriminate murder and chaos as possible, it is our first responders who are expected and ordered to race to the scene and put a stop to the violence at any cost.

Many view incidents of violence and tragedy as isolated events – something you read or hear about in a news article, but that you quickly forget if not directly impacted.

ALEX HORVATH / THE CALIFORNIAN

Paramedic Cortland Ashbrook and EMT Jason Goin check supplies at the start of their shift at Hall Ambulance.

continued to exhibit care and compassion in all they do.

On Aug. 22, Hall Ambulance was once again put to the test when the state requested the company to deploy an ambulance strike team to respond to the CZU Lightning Complex in Santa Cruz. Within moments of a recall message going out, we assembled enough paramedics and EMTs to mobilize five paramedic ambulances, a paramedic field supervisor unit, and a disaster medical supply unit to northern California. For five days, they worked shifts, staffing a CAL-MAT medical

For first responders, these events are daily occurrences experienced firsthand, and each one is a part of what can seem to be a relentless tide of despair and crime. This constant exposure to tragedy and risk takes a toll on first responders that is impossible to fully appreciate, and which comes with immeasurable burdens and consequences for those who choose to protect and serve our community.

I’ve had the pleasure this year of speaking with a young man, fresh out of service to his country in the Army, who has chosen to go through the local police academy and embark upon a career of public service as a peace officer. I worry about the challenges he will face, as the sentiment of some in our country has become very quick to condemn split-second decisions required of first responders. I worry about him because any first responder must make life-altering CYNTHIA decisions for the benefit of the community at a moment’s notice and then risk public vilification before being afforded the due process that the law demands. While I worry for him, and for all of our first responders, I share the sentiments of unending gratitude expressed by many in our community for those who choose this increasingly difficult area of public service.

It is startling to me, the actions of some – not all – protestors who claim issues of systemic racism and excessive force infect every police officer. While claiming excessive force is systemic, some have spat

facility at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville, and responded to local 911 calls.

Perhaps now, more than ever, the public has come to know the dedication that first responders put into serving their community. On the occasion of National First Responders Day, I am beyond proud of the commitment the Hall Ambulance Team puts forward, coming together for every request for medical aid.

Lavonne C. Hall is president and CEO of Hall Ambulance Service, Inc.

upon, assaulted, thrown rocks, bricks and incendiaries at men and women in uniform for which they have no basis to accuse of any wrongdoing. Why is it that, night after night, protestors feel empowered to openly commit assaults upon police officers tasked with keeping the peace? The answer, ironically, is that even the most violent protestors innately recognize that the vast majority of officers are professionals and will not respond to even criminal assaults upon them with unreasonable force.

When policy changes are considered, policy makers must recognize the essential, often thankless role first responders play in keeping society functional in even the darkest of times. When many of us were permitted – ordered, even – to “stay ZIMMER at home” amidst the pandemic, first responders held the line to keep ambulances, police and fire services fully operational.

Facing legislative changes that favor criminals, plummeting budgets and a worldwide pandemic, first responders continue to serve. Despite all the challenges that come with being a first responder in today’s political climate, extremely dedicated men and women continue to answer the call for public service.

To me, that’s extraordinary, and worthy of our thanks and gratitude.

Cynthia Zimmer is the Kern County District Attorney.

“RUN TOWARDS THE ROAR," THE OLD PEOPLE USED TO TELL N AT I O N A L F I R ST R E S P O N D E R S DAY

THE YOUNG ONES. FOR ONLY IN FACING YOUR FEARS CAN YOU FIND SOME SAFETY AND A WAY THROUGH. WHEN THE WORLD RATTLES AND THE END SEEMS NEAR, GO TOWARDS THE ROAR. ~ Michael Meade

Thank you.

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

To all the first responders who run towards the danger, not away.

The Bakersfield Californian

www.BakersfieldHeartHospital.com

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N AT I O N A L F I R ST R E S P O N D E R S DAY Wednesday, October 28, 2020 The Bakersfield Californian

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Countless show humanity, come together to fight COVID-19 A

round the world, communities like ours continue to face unprecedented challenges.

Here at home, the surge has flattened, leaving many of us in a state of confusion. How could this happen? Is it real? Why are we being forced to disconnect from each other?

How long will this last?

We continue to search for answers and fight to inspire our neighbors to care for themselves, so that they can care for others.

As we look ahead, we are grateful for those who have fought so hard to protect us.

COVID-19 brought new soldiers to the army of first responders.

The infiltration of the virus closed in quickly, shutting down businesses, schools and access to the very things that so many of us took for granted.

Healthcare workers faced a battle of the unknown and each day with the integrity and courage of a warrior, they served this community on the front lines.

Many risk their own health and the well-being of their loved ones.

I’ve worked in health care for nearly 10 years now and I’ve told many stories in my 25-year career as a television newscaster.

Telling a story has never been a problem for me.

It seems as if I’ve been doing it for most of my life. You would think that when people ask, “How’s it going at the hospital?”, it would an easy question to answer. But, nothing has been easy over the past eight months. The definition of health care has taken on a whole new meaning.

There are countless stories at Dignity Health to tell. Images that will forever be entrenched in my heart and mind.

At times, it looked like a battlefield inside our hospitals.

Words can’t describe the humanity of individuals who came together with one goal in fighting the unknown — the hospital presidents and leaders

❚❚But, it was what we saw outside our hospital walls that gave us the resiliency, determination and spirit to keep going. The gifts, signs, protective equipment, food deliveries and flashing light of prayers from a loving community brought a spirit of collaboration that was beyond what we could have imagined. For this we are forever grateful.

ALEX HORVATH / THE CALIFORNIAN

Employees of Memorial Hospital thank The Tejon Tribe, which donated 1,400 N95 particulate masks from the Tejon Indian Tribe Health Services to Dignity Health Mercy and Memorial Hospitals in March.

who practically lived at and supply workers who the hospital, implemented all joined the fight with no the new operareservation.

But, it was tional changes what we saw needed to outside our ensure everyhospital walls one’s safety. that gave us The nurses and the resiliency, physicians who determination became family and spirit to to those in end keep going. The of life and the countless num- ROBIN MANGARIN gifts, signs, prober of janitors, SCOTT tective equipfood service ment, food workers, transporters, endeliveries and flashing light of prayers from a lovgineers, phone operators

ing community brought a spirit of collaboration that was beyond what we could have imagined.

For this we are forever grateful.

During these extraordinarily difficult times in our world, I am humbled and reminded of all that is good.

To our teams at Mercy and Memorial Hospitals, we have experienced a special bonding of people and teams across our ministry.

Our collective spirit of ser-

vice remains strong and we know we will get through these hard times, together.

In the end, when the world stopped … you kept going.

When hope wavered … your courage inspired.

When normal returns … you’ll always be our heroes.

Robin Mangarin Scott is vice president of marketing and communications for Dignity Health’s Central California Division.

T

his year’s pandemic-related challenges brought on by COVID-19 have been unlike anything we have seen in our lifetimes. It goes without saying that these are unprecedented times and all our lives have been transformed.

Over the past several months, I have been amazed as our health care professionals and first responders across our nation have reacted with the RUSSELL utmost grace, dignity and professionalism.

As researchers continue to discover new information about this virus, protocols keep evolving. Safety practices and

protocols are constantly being altered and revised and this has led to confusion and frustration throughout our nation.

As we navigate through these uncharted waters, healthcare professionals and first responders have shouldered a significant amount of the pandemic’s weight.

They have been the touch of humanity and the connection bridging the gaps JUDD by disseminating information to patients, offering a shoulder to cry on, being the steady voice of comfort and reassurance.

At the same time, we remem-

COURTESY OF COMMON SENSE CONSULTING

Kern Medical front-line staff received 500 face shields, 500 masks, 1,000 bottles of water and hand sanitizer from Samco Food Stores in July.

ber our health care professionals and first responders are also mothers, fathers, sons, daughters,

friends and members of a community where they share a life outside the workplace. They have

made an incredible sacrifice and face immense risk to serve everyone around them.

Please let me attempt to express the gratitude and respect I have for all of you who keep us safe. Please accept my thanks from me and on behalf of everyone you serve for your dedication, courage and sacrifice. You are all true heroes.

Russell Judd is Kern Medical’s CEO.

N AT I O N A L F I R ST R E S P O N D E R S DAY

Health care professionals show grace, dignity, professionalism

Wednesday, October 28, 2020 The Bakersfield Californian

17

The Bakersfield Californian

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

N AT I O N A L F I R ST R E S P O N D E R S

Reflections of a nurse during a pandemic

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HEATHER VAN HOUSEN

I

am a professional nurse.

I was called to be a caregiver, not just any type of caregiver, but I was called to be a nurse.

As a professional nurse, my practice is grounded in science. I continually look for current literature and best practices to guide my practice. As a professional nurse, the manner in which I deliver this evidence-based care is equally as important. I consider it a work of the heart.

This combination of art and science earns nursing the status of most trusted profession year after year. As a nurse, I bring my life experience to my work. I empathize with my patients and their families because I understand what it’s like to be a daughter, a mother, a friend and, at times, a frightened human being.

During this response to the COVID-19 pandemic, every aspect of being a nurse has been challenged. Yet, the tenets of the nursing profession remain unchanged.

While the science guiding the treatment of patients can fluctuate almost daily, the principles of preventing infection, connecting patients and loved ones and providing care for daily living (bathing, movement, nutrition, comfort measures) did not change.

Nursing has always been a physically and emotionally demanding role. The importance of wearing protective equipment during this pandemic has required additional physical demand. The art of learning to communicate effectively through a mask, expressing concern and empathy with only our eyes became an important new skill.

Keeping families connected during necessary visitor restric-

PHOTOS BY ALEX HORVATH / THE CALIFORNIAN

Regular customers Geron Ford, Jasmain Macon, Pam Farese, Taralyn Hom, Katrina Pacia and Michele Spinella enjoy breakfast at 24th Street Cafe after finishing a 12-hour shift at Adventist Health Bakersfield.

tions also became a priority.

Being a comforting presence as a patient passes away has always been part of this sacred calling. The unfailing commitment to ensuring that no one dies alone brought the privilege of being there, holding a hand as a last breath was taken.

Commitment to my amazing teams at Adventist Health Bakersfield and supporting one another through these unchartered waters requires nurses to use our caregiving skills for one another.

Resiliency begins with caring for ourselves and helping others to balance the demands of this challenging work. We are in this together, and it is our responsibility to help each other achieve well-being: body, mind and soul.

I am a professional nurse.

I was called to be a caregiver.

So much of our world has changed … yet, as a nurse, the core of what I do, has not.

❚❚Nursing has always

been a physically and emotionally demanding role. The importance of wearing protective equipment during this pandemic has required additional physical demand. The art of learning to communicate effectively through a mask, expressing concern and empathy with only our eyes became an important new skill.

Heather Van Housen is the patient care executive at Adventist Health Bakersfield.

Adventist Health personnel enjoy a parade held by local first responders outside the hospital. First-responder agencies put on the parade as a way to say thanks to hard-working medical staff during COVID-19.

THANK YOU

WE THANK YOU EVERY DAY FOR HAVING OUR BACK!

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The Bakersfield Californian

Steve Urner DRE #0455426

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

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N AT I O N A L F I R ST R E S P O N D E R S DAY

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A CEO’s tribute to front-line staff during COVID-19

The Bakersfield Californian

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

N AT I O N A L F I R ST R E S P O N D E R S DAY

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20

s we come together to fight this global pandemic, I am continually impressed by the resilience, professionalism and dedication of our front-line caregivers, first responders and other providers of essential services. Without their commitment to serving others, we would not be able to get through this unprecedented crisis.

I could not be more proud of our clinical staff, who touch the patient daily. But I’m also grateful to our behind-the-scenes staff in pharmacy, laboratory, housekeeping, food and nutrition, facilities, and more who have been vital to the care of all of our

patients. ing. Businesses are closed or at I know our staff are balancing limited capacity, which impacts the concerns that we all have spouses, partners and other for our families, friends, and family members. Even though our own health, as we credit the frontwell as the changes line workers for their to our lives outside courage, we know of work. They, like spouses, partners, healthcare workers mothers; fathers; everywhere, not only sisters, brothers; sons care for the sickest or daughters have patients, but are also played a critical role managing extremely in saving lives by supchallenging issues porting and underMICHELLE at home. Children standing how to keep OXFORD of all ages are home our front-line staff from school, some protected. need to be home-schooled and I am grateful to the commuothers are on distance learnnity’s outpouring of support for

health care providers on the front lines. We have been thankful recipients of handmade masks, food, PPE, hand-painted signs and rocks, but are most appreciative of the prayers!

The pandemic has posed a great risk to many vulnerable members of our community.

Many nonprofits and other organizations are doing heroic work to help our neighbors by providing food, shelter and other critical resources. Their efforts are more critical than ever, so please continue to provide your support.

I am fortunate to work with so many dedicated health care

professionals. I want to offer my heartfelt thank you to our staff. Thank you for saving lives. Thank you for holding the hands of our patients when they feel frightened or alone.

Thank you for the extra shifts, volunteering to float when needed and for showing up with a willingness to help. We all hope and pray that this pandemic will end soon, but until it does, we are all in this together.

I have never been more proud to work with this Bakersfield Heart Hospital team.

Michelle Oxford is CEO of the Bakersfield Heart Hospital.

Community emergency response teams there to protect

BY DOMINIQUE DIEKEN uring and after times of widespread emergencies and disasters, citizens and residents depend on local, state and federal governments to help communities and lessen the impact of the event. When community needs are greater than professional emergency responders are able to provide, individuals and the media are quick in criticizing actions taken by government agencies and/or their staff.

By slightly modifying President Kennedy’s quote, ask not what your community can do for you — ask what you can do for your community.

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a nationwide program promoted under the umbrella organization Citizen Corps, but implemented at the local level under the sponsorship of a municipal or county public service agency. An effective CERT comprises citizen volunteers from all walks of life who have received standardized training, including disaster preparation and basic practical skills in fire safety/suppression, search and rescue, triage, medical treatment, as well as awareness in terrorism and psychological effects of disasters.

CERT comprises an organized team of volunteer emergency responders who agree to support professional responders so that they may focus on more technical tasks in times of need. However, participants who do not wish to join a team can attend the training for their own household’s benefit. The less people who become victims, the more effective emergency responder services are.

FEMA provides the training materials and curriculum to ensure that each CERT

D

program and training is standardized and in sync with their sponsoring agency.

CERT is financially self-reliant and does not depend on significant government funding. According to FEMA, there are nearly 2,600 CERTs nationwide.

My first experience with natural disaster was the Old Fire in Southern California in 2003. Unfortunately, the community I lived in at the time neither had CERT nor had I ever heard of CERT. I tried to make myself useful as a good Samaritan through tasks like compiling a list of fire-damaged homes, putting out smoldering hot spots with garden hoses and providing information to displaced neighbors and residents, feeding pets and emptying refrigerators (the fire had cut off all electrical power for over a week).

Although I established a liaison with and received the unofficial concurrence of the local fire department, my good intentions violated a cardinal rule of emergency response: Never operate alone. When I found out about CERT several years later, I pondered the similarities between my experiences in the Old Fire and how CERT could have made a difference. This prompted me to join Stallion Springs CERT in 2012.

Unlike most CERTs that are sponsored by a fire department, SSCERT is sponsored by the Stallion Springs Police Department.

SSCERT’s first major deployment was in 2011 when the Comanche Fire burned to the edge of the community. SSCERT was officially commended by local and county leadership for its role in supporting about 900 emergency responders who were able to save the community from major harm.

That incident propelled SSCERT from its

PHOTO COURTESY OF FEMA

CERT members in action.

humble beginnings to its current status.

Today, SSCERT has its own training program with FEMA-certified instructors, approximately 35 active members and some 200 local residents have completed the training to date. Through the dedication of its members, SSCERT also acquired infrastructure consisting of a headquarters building, a partnership with the American Red Cross to erect a public shelter, a reliable self-contained radio communications system and a mobile command post. I’m proud to have been a part of this effort.

To keep its skills honed between deployments, SSCERT provides support for

organized local community events, such as bicycle races, monthly meetings and drills, annual training classes and developing pre-disaster plans, such as large animal evacuation. As a non-profit 501©3, SSCERT relies on fundraising events and local grants.

If you would like to find out more information, receive training, or become part of SSCERT, please visit our Facebook page at StallionSpringsCERT. You can help with fundraising at.https://www.gofundme. com/f/cert-building-fund.

Dominique Dieken is the SSCERT lead.

Letters of appreciation from the community

I wanted to jump at the chance to say thank you to Mrs. Hall and the whole Hall Ambulance crew.

This year the National EMS Museum was scheduled to celebrate 50 amazing years of EMS in California. We had lined up exhibition stops at museums across the state and big festivities in Sacramento for EMS Week (May) and July 14 (the date of the Wedworth-Townsend Paramedic Act signing). However, COVID-19 had other plans for us and the project came to a sudden halt.

As luck would have it, Hall

Ambulance, along with other partners, stepped up to provide funding to turn our physical exhibit into a digital one. Not only did Hall Ambulance provide philanthropic support, but they provided artifacts, stories and access to their archives so we could tell the story of California EMS from every corner of the state.

Without their support, the National EMS Museum would have also feel victim to COVID-19 closure, but they insisted we continue on a new course and we were able to celebrate California’s EMS legacy in a truly meaningful way.

Hall’s dedication to their community, their patients, and their staff is inspiring, and we are looking forward to celebrating their big anniversary with them next year! — Kristy Van Hoven, National EMS Museum In February 2019, my husband and I enjoyed several days of sunshine and surf with friends

and family in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The weather was perfect. What a difference a few short hours can make.

We arrived back in California via LAX and headed home to Bakersfield. We encountered a snow and rain storm in a pass on Interstate 5. It was already dark and hard to see. Our friend, who was driving, is an excellent driver, but when we hit black ice, the car became a sled.

We slid into the K-rail and crashed into two other cars who had also crashed into the rail. Shortly after that we were slammed in the back by another sliding vehicle. Soon the highway was closed.

What a welcome sight when red lights flashing approached us from the other side of the highway and a loud message told us to stay in our vehicles. There was only one California Highway Patrol officer, but in short order he made sure he had collected all paperwork.

The officer was very confident and began untangling the cars mostly by jumping on the bumpers. It was freezing cold and he worked

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I would like to express my appreciation for my favorite first responder Eddie Martinez! A captain with the Kern County Fire Department! Woot-Woot! Thank you for all you do, for our family and your community, you make us proud everyday! We love you! — Lisa, Jeremy, Zach and Oliver Martinez, Bakersfield I am writing this note to let you know how much I appreci-

ate your courage as you go out and place your life in danger in order to save me and the rest of our community.

When I am praying for you (which I do every day), it reminds me of how Jesus suffered for love of us. Not that you are our Savior in that way, but you are truly servants of the Lord and He is pleased with all that you give up in order to go fight frightening fires, protesters and all violence.

I pray also for your families who also give up their spouses, parents, children, etc., who are out putting their lives at risk instead of being home enjoying family time together.

I don’t know you personally, but I know you are a child of God and I love you with the love He gave me to give to others. I am ever so grateful of all you are doing. May God bless you and keep you safe.

Know that He loves you and is near you always. He will never abandon us, His children, who have chosen him as Lord of our lives. — Elizabeth Fernandy, Bakersfield

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The Bakersfield Californian

OUTLETS AT TEJON

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

2012

fast and efficiently. The officer got all but our car safely over to the side of the highway and called a flatbed tow truck for our car as it was totally disabled. We were so impressed by his fast and efficient manner, and we knew we were in good hands.

I don’t know the officer’s name, but I did send a note to the CHP office thanking this officer and we hoped it would be forwarded to him. — Beverly Hayden, Bakersfield

N AT I O N A L F I R ST R E S P O N D E R S DAY

Though the majority of them do not get respect they deserve, city police, fire, sheriff’s deputies, ambulance, doctors and nurses all deserve better. They are always there for our needs. Some put their lives on the line to protect, help and comfort those of us in need. We don’t need to spit on or shame them. — John Mettler, Bakersfield

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N AT I O N A L F I R ST R E S P O N D E R S DAY Wednesday, October 28, 2020 The Bakersfield Californian

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PHOTO COURTESY HALL AMBULANCE

JULIE MANA-AY PEREZ / THE CALIFORNIAN

ABOVE: A Hall Ambulance Advanced Life Support Strike Team, led by a disaster medical supply unit, leaves Bakersfield en route to the CZU Lightning Complex fire in August. LEFT: Hall Ambulance Training Center Assistant Rochelle Pate demonstrates CPR on a mannequin.

Hall Ambulance’s EMT, paramedic program trains the next generation of first responders T

BY JULIE MANA-AY PEREZ he next generation of first responders answering medical emergencies is being trained right here in Bakersfield.

In the field of emergency medical services, emergency medical technicians and paramedics are among the first to respond. With the community’s safety at the forefront, these individuals have a tremendous amount of responsibility on their hands to make every second count. Lucky for them, they have a few programs that will help train them to the best of their abilities.

Established in 1971, Hall Ambulance has served Kern County with “care, compassion, and community.” In 2001, the Hall EMT Academy was founded for those who want to serve Kern County.

Hall Ambulance General Manager Myron Smith said the first

step to become a paramedic is to attend 320 instructional hours at the EMT Academy bundled with interview exams and a screening process.

Hall Ambulance Training Center Coordinator Nathan Kennedy said the EMT Academy consists of medical and ethical portions, all while teaching students how to deal with every kind of situation and patient a paramedic will encounter.

“It’s a rigorous program. After recruits complete the EMT Academy, they serve at least a year or two before they apply for the paramedic program,” said Smith.

Smith said then students go through a 40-hour paramedic preparation class.

“We assess their ability to tackle the subject matter, and those that are at the top of their class go on to paramedic school.

All of it after EMT Academy is

another year and a half or two years,” said Smith.

The Hall Paramedic Academy is also partnered with Bakersfield College, where those students are able to take part in a paramedic program.

“Hall Ambulance and Bakersfield College worked together for many years to see that to fruition.

They teach our curriculum for paramedic and EMT students.

We work together to keep a high standard,” said Smith.

In addition to completing their training, recruits must also have an American Heart Association CPR and first aid certification and an ambulance driver certification through the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Students are required to take part in a 16-week program comprised of exams, quizzes, finals, a hands-on lab, hospital clinicals and field internships.

Another part of their training requires EMT and paramedic recruits to acquire a robust mentality because of its extensive training.

“You need emotional resilience and strong emotional intelligence. It can be a high-stress job and sometimes you’re dealing with folks when they’re having their worst day. You see all types of people with different emergencies from children to young adults and elderly people,” said Smith.

“You have to be able to process all of that, do your job and go home at the end of the day.”

Harvey L. Hall EMS Academy features two classrooms, a clinical lab and a simulation room that features patient simulators that allow their students to receive hands-on experience with life-like patients in different scenarios.

Kennedy said most people who want to get into the field want to

give back to their community and help others.

“They want to help somebody.

Some students have experienced something bad in their lives and they have used that to want to help people so they get into the medical field looking to better themselves after a life situation,” said Kennedy.

Kennedy’s career at Hall Ambulance began 16 and a half years ago and he became a paramedic after his first ridealong.

“Somehow it moved my career. I was able to see the ropes and learn to fall in love with it — the aspect of being able to help and calm someone and be there in that time of need,” said Kennedy.

Smith said their enrolled students have completed EMT Academy 36 this year. Hall Ambulance has started its third paramedic academy this fall.

The Bakersfield Californian

1-833-278-4584

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Thank you for all you do!

N AT I O N A L F I R ST R E S P O N D E R S DAY

Serving Kern County for 50-years.

Thank you to our amazing medical assistants, nurses, and doctors on the frontlines.

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Wednesday, October 28, 2020

N AT I O N A L F I R ST R E S P O N D E R S DAY