Wisconsin teen saves young boy from drowning
Take a deep breath
From a young age, Alec Teczala knew he wanted to be a firefighter – just like his dad. He took a CPR class to follow in his footsteps. Those skills came in handy sooner than expected.
In 2015, Alec and his family traveled from their Wisconsin home to Florida for vacation. While in line to buy ice cream, his friend noticed a dark shadow in the pool. Alec realized someone was drowning.
Alec, who still gets chills reliving this memory, didn’t miss a beat. That day the 18 year old reacted, jumped in the pool, carried the young boy out, and used CPR to resuscitate the six year old. A year later, the young boy is still the normal child he was before his tragic incident at the pool.
The American Red Cross recently honored Alec at their Brave Hearts event in Wisconsin. He received the Youth of the Year Award sponsored by State Farm for his quick-thinking, life-saving actions.
To take a CPR class or learn other life-saving skills, visit www.redcross.org/takeaclass. Families can also download apps that provide first aid and water safety guidance apps @ www.redcross.org/apps.
Alec’s advice if you find yourself in a similar situation: “Take a deep breath, don’t panic, and do what you need to do to help.”
Sounds like a great firefighter in the making. And a true hero.