BOSTON — COVID-19 front line worker Michael Lydon balances his full-time job with a full college course load.
Lydon, 35, is a firefighter with Boston Fire Tower Ladder 3, a member of the U.S. Army Reserve, and an undergraduate student earning his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a concentration in homeland security at Endicott College’s Van Loan School of Professional Studies.
At the Purchase Street firehouse in Boston where he works, Lydon’s team primarily focuses on technical rescue operations, as well as building collapses and more involved rescues that other field companies may not be able to handle solo.
As many on the front lines attest to, Lydon said the coronavirus has presented numerous new challenges for first responders.
“We respond to medical calls on a daily basis, (including) cardiac arrests, trouble breathing, (and) drug overdoses,” he said. “In the new age of the coronavirus, we have to adapt our common procedures to accommodate the needs of the citizens while keeping ourselves protected at the same time.”
Lydon and Ladder 3 are now helping Boston’s emergency medical services (EMS) by assisting with urgent medical response during the COVID-19 public health crisis.
Because of his frequent potential exposure to the virus, the married father of one frequently worries about the safety of his family, but said that the city of Boston has arranged for frontline workers to quarantine at hotels if needed.
“At the end of the day, we’re there to serve the citizens of Boston, and we’ll always do our job and get it done,” he said.
Despite additional stress caused by the pandemic, Lydon said his coursework has helped him be more compassionate toward the citizens he works with, especially during the worst of the virus outbreak.
“In some of the psychology classes, I’ve learned about breaking things down to the level of the victim,” he said, adding that this approach applies directly to the pandemic. “I think that people are generally terrified when they see the fire department. People don’t usually call us unless something has gone terribly wrong, but being able to be empathetic and do the best I can to calm patients has been essential.”
This year, Lydon was also one of seven chosen to participate in the Van Loan School Leadership Circle, a partnership between the Dean of the Van Loan School, Dr. Laura Douglass, and Assistant Dean of the Colin & Erika Angle Center for Entrepreneurship, Dr. Deirdre Sartorelli.
Leadership Circle students offer their insight on the school’s strengths and potential for growth, and collaborate on the “Unofficial Survival Guide: For Students by Students.”
“He was clearly a leader in the group, helping the entire class navigate difficult discussions and see other people’s point of view,” said Douglass, who was one of Lydon’s first professors at Endicott. “I was particularly impressed that he was deployed for (U.S. Army Reserve) training during the course and proactively kept up with all his assignments, and returned to class without missing a single beat.
“His care and compassion for the people in his community are evident in everything he does.”
Marcelo Juica, director of Endicott College Boston, called Lydon “an amazing student” who sets an example for other students of what it means to be immersed in a community.
“Especially during this pandemic, he continually shows his commitment to balancing academic work, protecting himself and his family, and helping those in need,” Juica said. “He is a true leader in action.”
