2006 Archives

A Success Story and a New Outlook on Life

Written by Steve Bosso, Fire Chief

Wednesday, 25 January 2006

Linda and John Middleton

On April 20, 2005, Linda Middleton of Ravenna Township had just laid down to sleep for the night. Her husband, John, joined her shortly thereafter and as soon as his head hit the pillow, Linda had a feeling something wasn't right. John had no sooner laid down and started to snore. As she listened to John, she questioned that if he had just gone to bed, how could he have fallen asleep that quickly. Linda rose from her side of the bed just as the couple's dog, a Welch-Corgi named Cory, alerted and began to bark. Linda at first thought that her husband was having a seizure, but it became apparent that it was much worse. Linda had spent an entire career in the medical field as an assistant and her instincts took over. She called 911 and frantically requested a rescue squad to assist her husband. Linda determined that her husband was no longer breathing and had no pulse. She was able to maneuver Jon to a harder surface and began performing CPR as FireCom Dispatchers Joyce Griggy and Pam Vizzini gave emergency medical instructions over the phone and tried to calm Mrs. Middleton as well as could be. Linda got a slight pulse after performing CPR, but the pulse soon diminished.

Joyce Griggy Pam Vizzini

From left: FireCom Center Emergency Medical Dispatchers Joyce Griggy and Pam Vizzini.

As the Ravenna Township Fire Department rescue squad, with C-shift crew, arrived at their house, John was in cardio-pulmonary arrest (full arrest) and Advance Cardiac Life Support measures were initiated, including shocks, CPR and drug therapy. Captain Mike Goodwin removed Linda from the immediate area while the rest of the crew went to work. Captain Mike Evans, the lead paramedic, determined that Mr. Middleton's heart was in ventricular fibrillation after placing him on the heart monitor and shocks were delivered. Firefighter EMTs Matt Dix and Justin Lown shared the CPR and airway duties while Captain Evans began Advanced Life Support drug therapy. Firefighter EMT, and then paramedic student, Pete Anders successfully accomplished endotracheal intubation and the tube in Jon's airway was now secure, delivering high flow oxygen. When the crew moved Jon to the rescue squad, Jon had a pulse and was attempting to breathe on his own.

Upon arrival to Robinson Memorial Hospital, Mr. Middleton's vital signs indicated a bounding pulse and blood pressure with an Sp02 (pulse oximetry) of 99%. After an extended hospital stay between RMH and Akron General Hospital, John has since made a full recovery. He has kept in very close touch with the C-shift members and has made several trips up to the fire station to check up on his new friends. Ask John Middleton how his day is going now and you will find yourself not wanting to end the conversation. John, who admittedly has a new outlook on life, sees things a lot differently now. Ask and he'll tell you how each day is special and that you shouldn't take life for granted. Ask and he'll tell you how appreciative he is to get that second chance everyone always talks about. John is a walking smile these days. When he walks into a room, you can see in his eyes that he's glad to be there with you and you'll always walk away a more grateful person for having met him.

C Shift

Left to Right: Captain/EMT-P Mike Evans, Firefighter-EMT Matt Dix, John Middleton, Firefighter-EMT Justin Lown, Captain/EMT-P Mike Goodwin and Firefighter-EMT Pete Anders

Linda started the success story by being able to recognize that something was wrong and taking the proper measures in calling 911 and performing CPR. Cory, who sleeps faithfully on the floor at John's side of the bed, never leaves John's side these days. Linda relays the fact that Cory, who usually barks at strangers, never uttered a sound while the crew worked on John. It was as though the dog knew how grave the situation was, but remained calm while six strange men hovered over and worked on his master.

John and Linda have been married nearly 47 years, and they remain childhood sweethearts to this day. Their three children include Shawnee Clemens, John Middleton Jr., who is a career firefighter-paramedic for the City of Green in Summit County, and Lyn Mansell. John and Linda also have 12 grandchildren in Jessica Clemens, who has just begun her career as a dispatcher with The Akron Police Department, Jonathan Middleton, Jamie, Kayla, and Terry Mansell, Austin and Jocelyn Mansell, Parker Clemens, Nicholas and Madison Middleton along with Andrew and Kayla Palko. Also adorning the family are great grandchildren Madison Carter and Jayson Lockstedt.

2005 Service Awards Dinner

Written by Administrator

Saturday, 04 March 2006

On February 17^th 2006 the Ravenna Township Fire Department held its 2005 Service Awards Dinner at the Ravenna Township Fire Department. A presentation was given by Captain Cowdrey and Captain Sweitzer. After dinner awards and were handed out by Fire Chief Steve Bosso and Trustee Mel Cole.

Awards were recieved by:

Justin Lown - Chief's Award
Captain Quentin Cowdrey - Officer of the Year
James Collins - Firefighter of the Year
C-Shift - Trustees Award
Dave Goddard - Dispatcher of the Year for FireCom

Certificates of Appreciation:

Bob Cherry
Pat Artz
Mel Cole
Debbie Eckert
Karrie Myers
Joe Gedeon

Certificates of Appreciation from FireCom:

Joyce Griggy
Kelly Browne
Jessica Kiel

Years of Service Acknowledged

10 Years:

Tim Morgan
Mike Evans
Joyce Griggy
Wayne Scott

5 Years:

Shannon Fox
Steve Dorsey
Heather Sweitzer
Mike Goodwin
Quentin Cowdrey

Look who's on Americas Most Wanted!