|
News & Announcements1/17/2011 | BLJC technician marks 25 years as volunteer firefighter “It’s always good when you can do something for someone else,” says Long, who marked 25 years of volunteer firefighting in 2010. BLJC operations manager John Aucoin, who worked with Long for about three years in Halifax, isn’t surprised by Long’s longstanding volunteer commitment. Long’s willingness to help others – and go the extra mile doing it – is evident on the job as well, Aucoin says. He describes Long as the “go-to guy” that coworkers can always rely on for assistance, even if it means calling him on his days off. “He never, ever, did not help out in any way,” Aucoin says. “He often came in on his days off just to check on things,” he says, adding Long takes full ownership of his responsibility at the MPP. Aucoin says that “out of anybody I’ve ever worked with, Gordie was one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met.” “Basically, he just wants to help people,” Aucoin says. Long says he signed up with the Bedford, N.S., fire station years ago to join a buddy there. This work, too, is likely in his blood. Both his father and grandfather served with the department. “I was always around it growing up so I imagine it did (influence my decision to join),” Long says. In 25 years, Long has had heartbreaking and heart-warming experiences when answering the call to everything from forest fires to medical emergencies. Amongst his better memories is one made about 18 months ago when he revived an individual. “You’re doing CPR on a fellow and he takes a breath right there in front of you and comes back to life. “That was pretty good,” Long says. Another time, he says, his crew’s diligence allowed them to free a man pinned under a drill rig. Working in freezing temperatures for about six hours, they thought they’d have to amputate the man’s leg as hypothermia was setting in. But “we changed our approach a little bit and the next thing you know, he was out,” Long says. Experiences like these make the risk and sacrifice inherent with firefighting worth it. “The rewards in helping others far exceed some of the demands you have sometimes (such as) getting up at 2 o’clock in the morning, doing what you can and then going to work for 7 in the morning,” Long says. Aucoin notes Long always came to work on time and ready to go. “You’d never know he’d been up all night,” he says. Long’s firefighting training and experience comes in handy as a BLJC team member, with an ability to identify risks, provide health and safety input and respond appropriately to challenges. The emphasis on teamwork and problem-solving also serve Long well both in his job and volunteerism. Giving up firefighitng is not in Long’s plans, even after 25 years. He wants to continue helping his neighbours. Asked what motivates him, he says: “I don’t know. It’s just something I have to do. I don’t mind putting myself out for someone else’s benefit.” |
