LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Zachary Cumm upon the occasion of his
designation as recipient of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed
upon an individual by the New York State Senate

WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the State of New York to recognize and
acknowledge those young individuals within our midst who have made
significant contributions to the quality of life therein; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize the
caring concern and heroic acts of those exemplary citizens, who take
prompt and appropriate action in emergency situations, and in doing so,
help others to avert life-threatening danger; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and fully in accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Zachary Cumm upon the occasion of his designation as a 2016 recipient of
the Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the
New York State Senate; and
WHEREAS, The New York State Senate Liberty Medal was established by
resolution and is awarded to individuals who have merited special
commendation for exceptional, heroic, or humanitarian acts on behalf of
their fellow New Yorkers; and
WHEREAS, Zachary Cumm, a 12-year-old resident of Baldwinsville, New
York, was swimming with his friend on June 2, 2016, around 6:00 pm at
the Northwest Family YMCA in Lysander, New York, when he noticed his
friend slip below the surface of the water; his friend was going into
cardiac arrest and his face was turning blue; and
WHEREAS, Without hesitation, Zachary Cumm swam to the bottom of the
pool and started to pull his friend to the surface of the water; with
the help of an off-duty trooper who was swimming laps in the pool,
Zachary was able to pull his friend out of the water and onto the pool
deck where rescue efforts began; and
WHEREAS, The trooper and a YMCA lifeguard then performed Cardiopulmo-
nary Resuscitation (CPR) and retrieved an automated external defibrilla-
tor (AED), while contacting Onondaga County 911; and
WHEREAS, The trooper and lifeguard continued CPR and applied the AED
to the victim, while two parents rushed in to assist, one a registered
nurse and the other a respiratory therapist; and
WHEREAS, As the Moyer's Corners Fire Department, the Greater Baldwins-
ville Ambulance Corps, and additional troopers from Lysander arrived on
the scene, the boy began to take heavy breaths on his own; subsequently,
he was transported to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse, New York,
where he regained consciousness and was listed in stable condition; and
WHEREAS, Zachary Cumm's quick thinking and effective response to a
life-threatening emergency helped to save the life of his 12-year-old
friend; Zachary's heroic actions and his strong character and compassion
for the welfare of others in his community, and across the State of New
York, deserve to be commended; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Zachary Cumm upon the occasion of his designation as a 2016 recip-
ient of the Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual
by the New York State Senate; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Zachary Cumm.