By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
For the fifth year, Bowling Green Fire Division has been recognized for its care of patients experiencing severe heart attacks and strokes.
BG Fire Chief Bill Moorman announced the honor at Monday’s City Council meeting.
The Bowling Green Fire Division has received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold Achievement Award for its dedication to providing rapid, evidence-based care to individuals experiencing severe heart attacks and strokes, ultimately saving lives.
“The men and women over there are dedicated to serving the citizens on a daily basis,” Moorman said of the city’s firefighters/paramedics. “Every single day they are over there training and becoming the best that they can be.”
This marks the fifth consecutive year that the BGFD has received this recognition. Notably, the division earned honors for its response to both stroke and heart attack cases, Moorman said.
“I’m pretty proud of everything they do,” the chief said of his staff.
“This directly reflects on the work of all our paramedics, and the professionalism and ongoing training,” Mayor Mike Aspacher said.
Mission: Lifeline EMS is the American Heart Association’s national initiative to advance the system of care for patients with high-risk, time-sensitive disease states, such as severe heart attacks and strokes. The program reduces barriers to prompt treatment, starting when 911 is called, continuing through EMS transport, and extending to hospital treatment and discharge.
Optimal care for heart attack and stroke patients takes coordination between the individual prehospital providers and health care systems.
The Mission: Lifeline EMS Achievement Award highlights the importance of on-scene care, emphasizing collaboration and contributions to patient care by prehospital providers.
“The Bowling Green Fire Division is honored to be recognized by the American Heart Association for our dedication to providing optimal care for heart attack and stroke patients,” Moorman said. “In Bowling Green Fire, ‘OK’ is not good enough for us. We strive for professionalism and excellence in everything we do.“
Also at Monday’s council meeting, Utilities Director Brian O’Connell reported that city water customers will be getting notice that the water system recently violated a drinking water requirement.
O’Connell explained the city failed to comply with corrosion control treatment requirements caused by equipment failure that reported inaccurate results.
“Even though this is not an emergency, as our customers, you have a right to know what happened, what you should do, and what we are doing to correct this situation,” the letter states.
The violation occurred when the city failed to treat the water and maintain required levels of orthophosphate during 29 days between January and June.
“This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified within 24 hours,” the letter continues.
When Bowling Green is unable to maintain the range for corrosion control parameters, the Ohio EPA requires the city to provide an explanation and a plan on how the problem will be prevented in the future and increase the monitoring for lead and copper. The city’s written explanation will be submitted to the Ohio EPA by Sept. 10.
In other business, Municipal Administrator Lori Tretter reported on the “bittersweet” farewell to Dana Pinkert, who has served as the city’s finance director since June of 2021.
The job is quite challenging, Tretter said, and Pinkert performed admirably in the role with her focus on being steady, accurate and accountable.
Pinkert presented quarterly reports on the city finances to City Council members in her “matter or fact style” and offered her “steady hand” to members of the city’s executive team, Tretter said.
“We hate to see you go,” Tretter said to Pinkert. “This place is better because you were here.”
