Airmen saves teen's life Published Aug. 31, 2006 By By Lisa Terry McKeown Contributor POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- The security officer position was a part-time job Tech. Sgt. William Hutchison had taken while stationed at Tyndall AFB, Fla. He was there on a temporary assignment, and since his wife and children were still living in North Carolina, he took a job to fill his spare time. Little did he know the part-time job would enable him to help save someone's life. "I worked at a private hotel and condo complex that had beach access," he said. "My job was to make sure that if you didn't have the right identification, you didn't come through. At night, I would patrol the area and make sure people weren't in the hot tubs or pools ... regular security." One blustery day in early April, when the beaches were full of Spring Break party-goers, Sergeant Hutchison's regular job description quickly changed. "It was red flag conditions which means the water is very hazardous," he said. "I'd been watching all day and had called the front desk and told them that kids were still playing in the water. The cops came by a couple times and told the people to get out of the water because it was so dangerous. But it's not illegal for them to be in the water so all the cops could do is tell them to get out. "I was at my post and just doing my job when two ladies came running up. They were pretty frantic and told me there was a kid stuck out in the water. I radioed it in and then heard someone say the kid was going to drown if someone didn't do something. I didn't want to waste any time, so I jumped in the water and swam out there. I'll never forget it as long as I live. The kid was just bobbing up and down in the water. As I reached for his hand, he went under. He looked just like my son. I grabbed his wrist, and I brought him into where I could stand up. At that point, two guys picked him up and we ran onto the shore. Thankfully, he was conscious. We made sure he had a pulse, was breathing and then the paramedics showed up - so I left." Sergeant Hutchison said the child was about 13 years old and in good physical condition, but the strong current had carried him almost 150 yards off shore. It was all the teen could do to keep his head above water. He said one of the biggest surprises was that despite the emergency, adults and kids alike were still bounding into the dangerous waters. "As we were dragging the pale, limp kid out of the water, there were kids running into the water with their parents watching them do it," he said. "There aren't any life guards out there, so people need to be more responsible especially in those kinds of conditions." "It's better to be safe and live than try and tough it." Just a few hours later, a 30-year old woman died four miles down the beach after being pulled out to sea by the strong current. "The water doesn't care how fit you are," said Sergeant Hutchison. "It will rip you apart. It's better to be safe and live, than try and tough it out and die." Sergeant Hutchison is currently serving with the 43rd Security Forces Squadron. An average of 130 people died in North Carolina each year between 1994 and 2002, according to the North Carolina Center for Health Statistics. Some tips for staying safe and alive when swimming are: --Learn to swim: One of the best ways to stay safe around the water is to know how to swim. Even if you've been swimming for years, know your limitations and don't exceed them. --Don't swim right after you eat. --Alcohol and water do not mix. --Be familiar with the swimming area. Never dive into unfamiliar waters. Be prepared for currents, tides, deep holes, stumps and rocks. --Pay attention to local weather forecasts. --Use a feet-first entry when entering the water and never dive unless the water is clearly marked for diving and has no obstructions. --Always swim with a buddy. --Don't panic if you encounter a dangerous situation. --It takes very little effort to float. If you begin to get tired, try to float on your back to give your body a break. --Swim in areas supervised by lifeguards. --Read and obey all swimming rules. --Children or weak swimmers should wear flotation devices. --If you are too tired, too cold, too far from safety, have had too much sun or too much strenuous activity, get out of the water.