The Springfield Township and Sylvania Township fire departments accepted a donation of $5,000 for their partnership in the HERO program. Above, front row from left, are Jodi Livecchi, firefighter/EMT/HERO Springfield Township; Shawn Wittkop, lieutenant/HERO Sylvania Township; Marc Welsh, lieutenant/president International Association of Firefighters Local 3544 Springfield Township; Ryan Sedlock, lieutenant/president IAFF Local 2233 Sylvania Township; Todd Boatfield, firefighter/EMT Springfield Township and 419 Fest organizer. Back row from left are Trustees Tom Anderson Jr., Andy Glenn and Bob Bethel.
Springfield and Sylvania townships fire departments accepted a donation of $5,000 for their joint HERO program.
At the October 18 meeting, a check for the program was presented to the trustees. HERO, a joint venture, stands for Health, Education, Resource and Outreach. The program is run by firefighter/EMT Jodi Livecchi of the township and Lieutenant Shawn Wittkop of Sylvania Fire. The two offer help to residents in their respective communities who are in need of assistance.
Todd Boatfield, Springfield firefighter/EMT, said the money came from the 419 Music Festival held the third weekend in September. The festival is comprised of local music groups who perform throughout the 12-hour event.
“We held it in a grassy area at Dexters, near the old Kazmaier store,” he said.
“Todd does an excellent job of putting it together,” Fire Chief Barry Cousino said.
In prior years, the funds helped a cancer victim and last year, it was on hiatus due to COVID-19. With its return this year, organizers decided to donate the funds to HERO.
Lt. Wittkop said the goal of HERO is “to keep people safe and healthy at home.”
He and firefighter/EMT Livecchi visit homes one day each week, working with residents and helping them to take charge of their health.
“The landscape of health care is changing,” he said, noting that “80 to 90 percent of health care happens in the home.”
Since its inception in 2020, they have had 192 inci dents, serving 71 community members. One area of focus is fall prevention, an especially common problem among older adults.
“In one year of doing this, we saw a 75 percent reduction in repeat calls in Sylvania Township,” he said.
He noted similar success in Springfield with 157 incidents serving 43 community members. The township saw a 25 percent reduction in repeat calls.
The lieutenant described HERO as a four-pronged approach to mobile integrated health that is designed to im prove population health; enhance the patient experience; reduce the cost of care, and improve provider satisfaction.
He credits the community for the program’s success. “We have had a tremendous amount of community support,” and he believes the program is vital to the future as the last of the baby boomer generation enters retirement.
“That will increase health needs.”
Lt. Wittkop expressed appreciation to the 419 Music Fest for their donation and to other supporters, including Lowe’s, elected officials, levy voters, community agencies and business owners.
With an eye to the future, the lieutenant said they are hoping to improve the program and perhaps make it a full-time position for a firefighter/EMT.
He closed his presentation citing former President Theodore Roosevelt: “People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
Fire Report
Chief Cousino presented the fire department’s September run report.
There were 441 calls for service in the areas served by the township, which include Springfield, Holland, Harding, Spencer and Swanton townships. Of the calls the department responded to Springfield had the most, 303, followed by Holland, 60; Spencer Township, 45; Swanton Township, 17, and Harding Township, two. The department also responded to mutual/auto aid calls for Sylvania, 12, and Berkey, two.
The department conducted 16 inspections last month including reinspections, six; followed by state inspections, four; annual and final remodel, two apiece, and adoption/foster/home study and sprinkler system, one each.
In addition, three site plans were approved for TPS Aviation Center, 11600 West Service Road; Menard’s, 7001 Orchard Centre Drive, and Lucas County engineers, 1035 South McCord Road.
There also was one fire investigation for a structure fire at the 1600 block of South McCord Road. The fire occurred in the living room and was ruled unintentional. Damage was estimated at $30,000.
Other Business
In other fire department business, the trustees:
•Accepted the retirement resignation of John Barnes, firefighter/EMT, effective November 7. Mr. Barnes has been with the department since 1994 at the Crissey fire station. “We accept his retirement with gratitude for his service,” Trustee Bob Bethel said.
•Heard from Chief Cousino that the gradual transition to the countywide 911 system is going well. Different jurisdictions are being brought on each week, he said, noting that Toledo began October 5 and the township on October 12.
•Discussed the Leave it Behind Initiative. Chief Cousino said the initiative is offered at no cost to the department and entails distribution of a kit that contains Narcan and resources for addicts to enter rehabilitation.
Kits are provided by the Toledo/Lucas County Health Department. The chief acknowledged that at first he was hesitant. “Are we enabling these people?”
But by providing the kits, he believes it reduces the number of calls his department responds to and “avoids our people going into very seedy conditions.”
He added, “I think the positives outweigh my concerns. It’s a great program. We will start putting the kits on our trucks next week.”
•Learned that the Knox box system used by most businesses to provide access during emergencies now has an electronic version that allows area departments to be interoperable “since we are responding together more frequently.” With the new system, firefighters from other communities will be able to unlock the box using a code instead of waiting for Springfield, he explained.
“The electronic key requires a code to access the box and the code disappears from the key in 10 minutes,” he said, adding that it addresses security issues.
•Heard from the chief that the department continues to attend every Springfield High School home football game. “Personnel are there to provide emergency care to any spectator and assist the athletic trainers with care for players.”
The next trustees meeting will be at 5 p.m., Monday, November 1, at the township meeting room, 7617 Angola Road, and is open to the public. The meeting also can be viewed via the livestream at springfieldtownship.net.
~Jane Maiolo
