Source: TapInto.net
Two good Samaritans from Berkeley Heights were recognized by Mayor Angie Devanney and town council at the Berkeley Heights Township Council meeting held at the Municipal Complex last week. Family, friends, and community members looked on proudly as Bob Coletta and Michele Young received good citizen proclamations for their heroic efforts in saving the life of a fellow Berkeley Heights citizen.
Mayor Devanney was proud to present the proclamation to 40-year Berkeley Heights resident and architect Bob Coletta, starting off by reading how the Township of Berkeley Heights is grateful and proud to have citizens who so willingly help others when needed. She went to explain that the incident for which Coletta was awarded happened in the ShopRite parking lot in Long Hill when he saw 80-year-old Berkeley Heights resident Kirk Judkins on the ground and ended up performing life-saving chest compressions.
Another bystander stepped in to continue compressions and other hero bystanders continued life-saving actions until off-duty EMTs and police arrived on the scene. It was determined that the early intervention of Bob Coletta and others was instrumental in the successful conclusion of this event. Coletta is also a favorite local photographer and frequent contributor to TAPinto Berkeley Heights.
Mayor Devanney was equally proud to present a proclamation to Michele Young, a Berkeley Heights resident of 23 years, mom of four kids, and a five-year EMT with the highly trained Berkeley Heights Volunteer Rescue Squad. She started off by reading that the Township of Berkeley Heights is grateful and proud to have dedicated citizens who serve as members of the Berkeley Heights Volunteer Rescue Squad and the men and women of the Rescue Squad respond to calls at all hours of the days and nights, leaving their families to help fellow citizens.
Devanney continued by explaining that Young was the first EMT on the scene to assist Mr. Judkins, who appeared to be having a heart attack. She took over performing CPR on him and established an airway to provide ventilation, a critical step in ensuring recovery. She also assisted the on-site police officer in providing a shock to the patient from the Automated External Defibrillator (AED). It was determined that the early intervention of Michele Young and others was instrumental in the successful conclusion of this event.
The Mayor concluded by proclaiming, “NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and Township Council of the Township of Berkeley Heights does hereby, for itself and for all the residents of the Township, publicly thank Michele Young – a Berkeley Heights resident of 23 years and mom of four kids – for her volunteerism, dedication and service and for using her training to help save a fellow resident’s life.”