A long-time member of the fire department who retired in March was recognized by the Springfield Township trustees and her colleagues.
At the trustees March 21 meeting, the board presented Jodi Livecchi with a proclamation honoring her more than 25 years of service.
Ms. Livecchi joined the department in 1996 and in 2001 was hired as a full-time firefighter/paramedic.
The proclamation recognizes her for being “instrumental in researching and development of the collaborative HERO program with Sylvania Township.”
Fire Chief Barry Cousino said Ms. Livecchi has a passion for the Health, Educa tion, Resources, Outreach program, noting that she will be staying with the department following retirement to continue her role in HERO.
She, in conjunction with Lieutenant Shawn Wittkop of Sylvania Fire Department, formed HERO to help residents in their respective communities who are in need of assistance.
With more and more older residents electing to remain in their homes, often alone, the goal of the program is to keep them safe and healthy and provide them with the tools to take charge of their health.
HERO utilizes a fourpronged approach to mobile integrated health to improve population health; enhance the patient experience; reduce the cost of care and improve provider satisfaction.
“Jodi has been passionate about being a patient advocate for our senior population by providing medical and social work activities when our residents have nowhere else to turn,” he said.
“Through her different roles and responsibilities, she has been instrumental in the protection of our community and personally responsible for saving countless lives,” Chief Cousino added.
“She has done an outstanding job for us on so many levels,” he concluded.
February Fire Report
As part of his monthly report, Chief Cousino presented the calls for service.
In February, the department handled 346 calls in the areas served by the township which include the Village of Holland and Harding, Spencer, Springfield and Swanton townships.
Of those, Springfield had the most, 263, followed by Holland, 42; Spencer and Swanton townships, 14 each and Harding Township, four.
The department also responded to mutual/auto aid calls for Sylvania Township, four; Monclova Township and the City of Sylvania, two apiece, and Toledo, one.
Handling the greatest volume of calls was Station 51 at McCord Road, 204. Station 53 at Garden Road responded to 83 calls and the Frankfort Road station, 59.
The majority of calls were EMS, 231, followed by public service assistance, 55; wrong location, 17; alarm system malfunctions, 15, and dispatched and canceled en route, 10.
Last month, they conducted seven inspections, including state, three; re-inspections, two, and home study and fire alarm, one each.
In addition, five site plans were reviewed and approved for Midwest Tape, 1417 Timberwolf Drive, office remodel; Old Navy, 1420 South Holland Sylvania Road, interior alteration; office building, 1574 Henthorne Drive, improvements; Springfield Local Schools, 6924 Spring Valley Drive, remodel, and Apple Blossom Reserve, Gunn at Pilliod roads, preliminary drawing.
One investigation was conducted for a structure fire at 1710 Berkey-Southern Road. Cause of the fire, which occurred in the utility area, remains under investigation and damage is estimated at $150,000.
Other Business
In other fire department business, the chief:
•Announced he continues to chair the Lucas County EMS policy board and EMS medical committee.
At the last policy board meeting, “we discussed the status of the new free-standing emergency rooms,” he said.
And at the EMS medical committee meeting, focus was on protocols that paramedics work under, he explained.
•Commended paramedic Aiden Yoon, the department’s outreach coordinator, for a Stop the Bleed course he conducted at Springfield High School over a four-day period.
“He demonstrated techniques on how to properly stop a patient from bleeding after an injury. Now they have the ability to recognize life-threatening bleeding and act quickly,” Chief Cousino said, adding that 69 students attended the class.
•Noted that 31 Springfield Schools’ bus drivers have been recertified in first aid and CPR.
•Reviewed training for first responders over the last month including an ice rescue course at Wiregrass Lake.
“Firefighters donned the proper protective gear to guard against hypothermia as a scenario was set into place to remove a victim from the water,” he explained. “Care and treatment of a submerged patient following removal also was reviewed.”
Crews also attended a lecture on how to identify and handle patients with special needs.
The next trustees meeting is at 5 p.m., Monday, April 18, at the township meeting hall, 7617 Angola Road, and is open to the public. A live stream also can be viewed at springfieldtownship.net.
~Jane Maiolo
