CPR Efforts By Summit First Responders Save Life Of Millburn Resident

SUMMIT, NJ — This past July, Summit first responders used CPR to save the life of a local resident who had gone into cardiac arrest.

Mayor Nora Radest and Common Council recognized members of the Summit Police Department, Summit Fire Department and Summit Volunteer First Aid Squad with an award for exceptional duty for their successful efforts in July.

The award was presented by Radest and Fire Chief Eric Evers at the Tuesday, Nov. 1 Common Council meeting.

On July 28, 2022, at approximately 1:08 p.m., Millburn resident Jon Hetherington went into cardiac arrest at a River Road office location.

On arrival, Summit responders began CPR and applied an AED to Hetherington. Several shocks were administered to Hetherington throughout the incident, and crews continued CPR efforts for approximately 40 minutes, after which time Hetherington began to breathe on his own and regained a pulse.

He was then sent to Morristown Hospital by the First Aid Squad for further care.

Following a full recovery, Hetherington and his wife Patty Hetherington attended the Nov. 1
Common Council meeting to personally thank all first responders that were involved.

“The successful outcome of this incident is a truly outstanding example of Summit’s first responders working together as a team to save the life of a community member,” said Mayor Radest. “We are thrilled to have Mr. Hetherington join us at the Common Council meeting this evening and to see firsthand how well he is doing.”

The following individuals responded to the incident:

• Summit Fire Lieutenant Brian Harnois
• Firefighter Adam Oare
• Firefighter Brian Tavis
• Summit Police Officer Leonard Franchino
• Officer Jeffrey Reinecke
• Summit Volunteer First Aid Squad members Anna Bowyer, Alex Cohen, and Will Zipf

"We are so fortunate to live in a community with dedicated first responders who are highly trained," Radest said. "These individuals did not give up on Mr. Hetherington and their determination saved him. I am so proud and thankful for this heroic effort and their exceptional duty."

For more information on the Summit Police Department and Fire Department, you can visit www.cityofsummit.org.