Dieball talks disaster preparedness, first aid training

Jul. 17--With the recent earthquakes that rattled Ridgecrest on July 4 and 5 and the possibility of aftershocks registering magnitude 4 or higher occurring in the weeks or months to come, one expert former Red Cross volunteer dressed the importance of being prepared.

Ken Dieball, manager for Ridgecrest First Aid and Disaster Preparedness, offered some suggestions to the Daily Independent during a recent interview.

Dieball has experience in working through natural disasters and gives presentations on disaster preparedness. A former Red Cross member with 21 years of experience, he's served through 40 disasters.

"With something like that happening, it's important to be prepared because you never know if you're going to be able to leave town," Dieball said.

"What we teach is trying to give people the self-contained ability to shelter at home, recommend that people have the proper supplies like a gallon of water per day per person," Dieball said. "If you have pets, you have to take that into consideration."

Dieball said he and his wife personally keep at least 10 cases of water in the house because of their pets.

You also want to make sure you have enough medication supplies; he recommends having three months worth.

"If something big happens, everything could be shut down and if you run out of meds, the pharmacy wouldn't be accessible," Dieball said.

"We recommend enough food supplies including canned goods," Dieball said. "If you lose power, we would recommend you eat the food in your refrigerator first so it doesn't spoil and then the food in your freezer and then your canned food."

However, Dieball said people shouldn't just go to the grocery store and purchase the first canned food items they see on sale.

"Buy the food you know you will eat and your kids will eat," he said.

Dieball also recommended purchasing a portable grill or propane cooker so people can cook their food.

He also recommended another essential but overlooked item: a manual can opener for canned food.

Dieball said if a person needs to turn off their gas, it would be best to have a nonmetallic wrench next to the line to reduce the chances of a spark.

"The best way to know if you have a gas leak is not only by smelling or hearing it but going out to the meter," he said. "Know where your meter is. If you see those dials moving quick, then you know you've got yourself a gas leak somewhere. Shut it off and don't turn it back on until you have someone from [PG&E] come out to check on it and re-light your pilot."

He recommended that people also know where their electrical box is located to just make sure shut off the main breaker in case of suspected electrical problems.

"In case you need to get out of the house, you should also have a ready bag prepared, which is a change of clothes, toiletries and that type of thing," Dieball said. "Have a first aid kit in your home or vehicle. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, just enough to help someone or yourself."

He also recommended having at least having a half-full tank of fuel in a vehicle in case gas stations are out of service.

Dieball also said people shouldn't rule out purchasing small hand-held radios to communicate with people, as cellphones towers might be tied up or disabled following an earthquake.

"Also have an out-of-state contact and let everyone know who that is," he said. "Say your brother lives over in Maryland, give him a call and tell him how you're doing, so then he can relay the message to family members."

Dieball said when the magnitude 6.4 temblor hit Thursday morning, he heard reports from friends that the insides of their houses were in disarray, with broken plates and furniture.

"It's just a good idea to be prepared," he said.

FIRST AID TRAINING

Ridgecrest First Aid and Disaster Preparedness also conducts training for First Aid, CPR and use of Automated External Defibrillators that can be used on infants, children and adults.

"It is something we really recommend and we only charge $20 for our class," Dieball said. He said that covers the class book, certification and a wallet-sized card.

"We don't charge for our training because we just want to get Ridgecrest prepared," he said. "We're so isolated from everyone else."

Ridgecrest First Aid and Disaster Preparedness is certified to teach through the state of California and the Emergency Care and Safety Institute.

The organization itself has 12 members and meets once a month, 6:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month at Vaughn Reality.

"We do everything from heart attacks and cardiac arrests to strokes, insect bites and spiders," he said. "We provide training for improvised tourniquets, diabetes and how to assist with an Epipen."

He stressed that the use of an EpiPen is done by placing the person's individual device in their hand and guide its administration. Dieball said this is because California law prohibits the use of someone else's medication.

Dieball said the only thing Ridgecrest First Aid and Disaster Preparedness doesn't focus on is pregnancy delivery or a two-man carry mostly for insurance purposes.

"Our classes are five hours and the first part is basic first aid and knowledge of the Good Samaritan Law," Dieball said. "So many people are afraid of providing first aid for fear of getting sued, but through the Good Samaritan Law, if you stay within the guidelines of what you are taught ... the chances are good to slim."

He said the class is video-driven with hands-on training via use of mannequins. The videos present different scenarios, such as "Disagree or Agree" methods or what to do in the event of a rattlesnake bite.

Other scenarios involve the proper removal of gloves that have blood on them. Dieball said Ridgecrest First Aid and Disaster Preparedness uses shaving cream as a training course.

"What happens is if find one speck of shaving cream on their hands, they do the exercise over until they get it right," he said. "I'm looking out for their safety."

Classes are conducted on the second Flex Tuesday of every month at America's Job Center of California, 540 Perdew Ave, Suite B2.

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