Sheriff’s detective honored with American Red Cross Lifesaving Award for saving child in Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office honors one of their own with the American Red Cross Lifesaving Award for his successful intervention in saving a one-year-old child on Tuesday in Santa Barbara.

On Tuesday, the Sheriff's Office held a ceremony at the Sheriff's Headquarters to present Detective Christopher MacAuley with the American Red Cross Lifesaving Award.

American Red Cross Central California Region CEO Tony Briggs and Board Chair Robert Rauchhaus presented the award to Detective MacAuley. 

Sheriff Bill Brown, the Sheriff’s executive and command staff, along with friends, family and co-workers of MacAuley were in attendance and congratulated him on the occasion. 

Back in June 2019, Detective MacAuley was working patrol from the Santa Maria Sheriff's Substation.

MacAuley was patrolling the 3300 block of Orcutt Road when he was flagged down by a distraught father who was carrying his limp one-year-old child.

MacAuley assessed the child and determined he was unconscious and not breathing.

MacAuley relied on his first responder training and quickly administered back blows, chest compressions and finger sweep.

Detective MacAuley was able to dislodge a small piece of plastic the child had ingested.

MacAuley's timely actions restored the child's ability to breathe and allowed the child to quickly recover.

The Sheriff's Office says his actions were instrumental in saving the child's life.

MacAuley remarked that he had never seen a look as horrifying as the face of the father when he handed him his child. 

Detective MacAuley is a 10-year veteran of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.