SANTA BARBARA Santa Barbara County sheriff’s Detective Christopher MacAuley was presented with the American Red Cross Lifesaving Award on Tuesday for his successful intervention which saved the life of a 1-year-old child.
On June 21 Detective MacAuley was patrolling the 3300 block of Orcutt Road when he was flagged down by a distraught father who was carrying his limp 1-year-old child. Detective MacAuley assessed the child and determined he was unconscious and not breathing. He was able to rely on his first-responder training as he quickly administered back blows, chest compressions and a finger sweep, and dislodged a small piece of plastic the child had ingested, Sgt. Erik Raney, sheriff’s spokesman, said in a news release.
“McAuley’s timely actions restored the child’s ability to breath and allowed the child to quickly recover,” Sgt. Raney said. “His actions were instrumental in saving the child’s life.”
Detective MacAuley, a 10-year veteran of the department, was presented the award by American Red Cross Central California Region CEO Tony Briggs and Board Chair Robert Rauchhaus. Detective MacAuley said he had never seen a look as horrifying as the face of the father when handed him his child.
“I am just glad that I was there, and able to get the child breathing again. I was as relieved as the father,” he said.
