Newton Medical Center Foundation honors first responders
Andover. More than 220 guests gathered as the Newton Medical Center Foundation recognized first responders and caregivers for lifesaving work during its annual Heart & Soul community celebration.
The Newton Medical Center Foundation recently honored first responders and frontline caregivers from Sussex and Warren counties during its annual Heart & Soul — A Community Celebration event at Perona Farms.
The event recognizes individuals and organizations that provide lifesaving care both in the field and at Atlantic Health Newton Medical Center and Atlantic Health Hackettstown Medical Center.
More than 220 guests attended the celebration, where speakers shared real-life stories of cardiac emergencies in which lives were saved using automated external defibrillators distributed through the foundation’s community AED program.
Awards presented during the evening included the Scott Danielson Heart of Saving Lives Award and the Visions Team Award.
Organizations recognized included Atlantic Health Sparta Urgent Care, the Andover Police Department, the Sparta Ambulance Squad, Atlantic Health BLS, the Franklin Borough Police Department and Saint Clare’s Paramedics.
The foundation launched its community automated external defibrillator program in 2001 to provide AED devices, training and education to organizations throughout the hospital’s service area.
Since the program began, more than 1,150 AEDs have been distributed, more than 7,100 people have received AED training, and the devices have helped save more than 88 lives in the communities served by Newton and Hackettstown medical centers, including five in the past year.
