Officers honored for saving life

In a downtown Indianapolis hotel Friday, Officers Chris Dutton and Mike Antonelli were honored by the American Heart Association at American Heartsaver Day.\nThe event honors the heroes and members of the community who have provided life-saving care using CPR or an Automated External Defibrilator. \nThe two were "honored for (their) efforts in promoting and advocating healthier and safer communities," according to a letter from the AHA.\nAntonelli, who now works for the Indianapolis Police Department, and Dutton responded to an IU Police Department call Feb. 7, 2003, to the IU Physical Plant, where employee Allen Clouthier was not responsive. \nWhen the officers arrived at the scene, Clouthier was lying on the floor -- unconscious, not breathing and without a pulse, according to an IUPD incident report.\nAccording to the AHA Web site, "for every minute that passes without defibrillation, a victim's chances of survival decrease by 7 to 10 percent."\nWith CPR in progress, Dutton arrived with the AED. An AED is a portable device that walks the user through the process of checking and analyzing the heart's rhythm. The device specifies where and how to apply the pads, when and if a shock is needed and what steps to take to prepare to deliver a shock to the heart. \n"Once the machine prompted Officer Dutton to shock the patient, he did so," Antonelli wrote in his incident report. "The AED then showed a display that advised 'no shock.' At this point, we continued CPR. Officer Dutton conducted chest compressions while I administered the mouth-to-mouth breathing."\nDutton and Antonelli continued to deliver CPR until the Bloomington Fire Department and Bloomington Hospital Ambulance Service arrived.\nThe AED Dutton and Antonelli used to save Clouthier's life was one of six donated by the IU Foundation to IUPD in March 2001. IUPD squad cars are now all equipped with AEDs, and all officers are trained in using them along with the usual CPR training they receive. \nWhile CPR can circulate oxygen throughout the body, only the AED can actually restart the heart by shocking it.\nIn addition to the six located in squad cars, there are currently 17 other AEDs located on campus including those in the Health Center, the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, the Student Recreational Sports Center and Assembly Hall. \n-- Contact staff writer Mallory Simon at .