South Brunswick's Houses of Worship Summit Teaches Congregants How To Save Lives

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — The South Brunswick Police Department held its third annual Houses of Worship Summit this year, training faith community members in emergency medical response and providing bleeding control kits to congregations across the township.

The event was organized in partnership with the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.

Participants received hands-on training in bleeding control techniques and left certified to respond to traumatic bleeding emergencies. Each house of worship represented at the summit also received a bleeding control kit.

The summit has addressed a different public safety theme each year since its launch. The inaugural event focused on active shooter awareness and preparedness, the second on de-escalation and mental health, and this year's was on emergency medical response.

Community Policing Detective Ryan Bartunek, who coordinates the summit, said the event is designed to give residents the confidence to act quickly in a crisis.

"This summit is about giving our community the tools and confidence to act when seconds matter," Bartunek said. "Preparedness saves lives, and partnerships like these make our entire township stronger and safer."

The South Brunswick Police Department offers several ongoing community programs, including Neighborhood Watch, Coffee with a Cop, a Youth Police Academy, a Citizens Police Academy, active shooter awareness presentations and neighborhood security and safety programs.

Residents or organizations interested in hosting similar programs or learning more about community policing initiatives can contact Bartunek at 732-329-4000, ext. 7476, or at rbartunek@sbpdnj.net.

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