When Mike Lauria '05 decided to get involved with rescue work and become a ski patroller during his freshman year, he never expected that he would eventually become a firefighter with rescue specialist training. Lauria, however, quickly realized that "there is no better job than going to work to help people."
After spending the summer of 2002 volunteering his services as an EMT at a local fire house in Stamford, Conn., Lauria decided to contact the Hanover Fire Department and offer to go on runs and assist professionally trained firefighters. He was told that if he wanted to be a member of the department, he was going to have to become a fully trained firefighter.
"I had a sense of trepidation about it at first, but I figured I'd go along with it," Lauria said. Lauria now works two night shifts a week amounting to about 28 hours. Lauria is one of several area volunteers who work alongside 16 professional firefighters.
Lauria has had to answer several cardiac arrest calls since joining the department. In February of this year, Lauria responded to a cardiac call placed for a Norwich woman.
"She was basically dead when we got to her, but we delivered her to the hospital with a pulse, and breathing on her own." According to Lauria, "It was the most intense call I have ever been on, and it was incredibly rewarding."
Lauria has spent up to eight and a half hours knocking down flames. "It's really amazing," he said. "People call 911 frantic looking for us to come and help them fix the situation, make it better, or at least make them more comfortable."
The satisfaction that comes from helping others is not the only thing that draws Lauria to firefighting. "The camaraderie of working in the fire department is amazing. It's very strong. It's a real brotherhood, and that's something."
Lauria is certainly not the first Dartmouth student to serve as a firefighter for the town of Hanover. Back in the late 70s and early 80s, several Dartmouth students lived in the station. There is a strong history of Dartmouth students working with the Hanover Fire Department, and Lauria is adding the next chapter to that history.
