Summit Volunteer First Aid Squad Assists with Unexpected Roadside Birth

Summit, NJ – October, 2025. What began as a quiet Saturday evening for the Summit Volunteer First Aid Squad quickly turned into an unforgettable experience when members were dispatched to assist a woman in active labor on Passaic Avenue.

Upon arrival, Summit Police officers were already on scene with the new parents and their newborn daughter, who had made her arrival moments before the first ambulance crew, staffed by members Beverly Brown and John Reichart, reached the location. Both Beverly and John immediately provided post-delivery care to mother and baby while coordinating additional resources to ensure continued coverage for the city.

Additional member volunteers ,Jolan Schluter, John Buscaino, Bob Mendes, Blair Clark-Schoeb, and Mary Kate Davidson, responded to assist with transporting the family to the hospital, while Atlantic Health paramedics provided advanced life support, ensuring that both mother and child received seamless, high-quality care. Reichart, a retired police supervisor, coordinated communications and logistics at the scene while Beverly attended to the new mother.

“After 44 years on the squad, I can honestly say that this was one of those calls that reminds us why we volunteer,” said Crew Chief Beverly Brown, who joined the Summit Volunteer First Aid Squad in 1980. “Most of our calls involve people in crisis or distress, but this was pure joy, and it’s something none of us will ever forget.”

The Summit Volunteer First Aid Squad is a 100% volunteer organization providing emergency medical services to the City of Summit 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. The squad is funded entirely through donations and community support.

For more information about volunteering or supporting the squad, visit www.summitems.org

By John Reichart