Phoenix, Arizona – Three Phoenix Police officers and a Southwest Airlines employee saved the life of a 53 year old woman yesterday, Sunday, July 29, 2007 at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

An emergency call came into the Sky Harbor Communications Center and Officers Russel Rader, Jason Toth and John Mayo were dispatched to assist a woman not breathing at the Southwest Airlines ticket counter inside Terminal 4. Officer Rader was the first to arrive on scene and discovered the woman not breathing and without a pulse. Southwest Airlines Supervisor Kelly Keeley retrieved an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) machine and got it ready for the officers to use. Officer Rader initially began chest compressions and when Officers Toth and Mayo arrived, Rader began rescue breathing, Mayo continued the chest compressions and Toth applied the AED which shocked the woman once. Her heart began beating and she started breathing on her own. Phoenix Fire Department personnel transported the woman to a nearby hospital for evaluation.

This is Officer Rader’s third AED save at Sky Harbor and his fourth save with the Phoenix Police Department. “Timing is everything. A lot of credit goes to the Southwest supervisor for her quick action and foresight in getting the AED machine ready for us to use,” said Rader.

This is Officer Toth’s first AED save at the Airport and his third save with the Phoenix Police Department. Both Rader and Toth are part of the Airport Bureau’s Explosive Detection K-9 Unit. This is Officer Mayo’s first save with the Phoenix Police Department.

Sunday’s life saving event marks the 16th AED save at Sky Harbor.