By Marie Kriedman
Dayton Daily News
NEW LEBANON, Ohio — New Lebanon resident David Nickerson considers firefighting an essential part of his life.
He has been a volunteer firefighter since 1991 and joined the New Lebanon Fire Department in 2007. “I had friends that were on the department,” he said. “When I bought a house in New Lebanon I wanted to volunteer for them. It allows me to give back to the community I live in.”
In addition to firefighting, Nickerson has served in the military almost 30 years. He worked in the Coast Guard from 1982 to 1990, and has served with the Army National Guard since 1991.
Nickerson’s rank is Sgt. 1st Class and he works with Homeland Security. He has been deployed to Iraq twice; for six months in 2003 and 16 months starting in 2005.
Nickerson, 49, was awarded a Bronze Star during his second tour. He was involved in weapons attack and rescued an injured civilian contractor whose housing unit was hit by a mortar.
Nickerson suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and said he finds that firefighting helps.
“Being on the fire department soothes me and relaxes me,” he said. “It calms me and that’s what I enjoy doing.”
How he became involved in firefighting: “I grew up around the fire service. My dad was a firefighter and an arson investigator.”
What actions he performed: Nickerson, who is also a hazardous materials instructor, has received two commendations for firefighting. On Christmas Day 2010 he responded to a head on collision and used Jaws of Life tools alone to extricate a man trapped in a vehicle.
His second commendation involved a medic call this spring, where he worked with two other people to help a man suffering from seizures and who suffered heart failure.
“We’re a basic crew, so we’re not paramedics. We started CPR and hooked him up to the AED and he survived his heart attack,” he said. “He is alive and well today; we got a letter from him thanking us.”
Most satisfying part about his work: “Being able to help someone is my focus. I like being in the middle of everything; I don’t care how nasty it is, how hot it is, none of that matters.”
Copyright 2012 Dayton Newspapers, Inc.