JCM students swap textbooks for hands-on learning
DOWNTOWN JACKSON — After hitting the books all semester, nine Jackson Central-Merry students took their lessons from the classroom to the training ground. “It gives them some actual hands-on practical experience,” said Jimmy Floyd, operations manager with the Jackson-Madison County emergency management office. Students from the class navigate through wires, smoke and fire, all skills they have spent weeks studying. “It was a lot different than what we did in class,” said James Jones, a junior at JCM. “It was still sorta the same, but we did more triage before we did this and put out little fires.” When students complete the class, they will be certified members of the community emergency response team, or CERT, training just like firemen and first responders. “Basically it’s just you’re prepared for any hazards such as earthquakes or tornadoes,” JCM senior Deana Hudson said. Rico Bryson with the Jackson Fire Department tells students one of the most important aspects of a search and rescue is good communication. Students seem to agree. “If someone’s in there, if they can call out and hear you, maybe they can call out to you and help you get them to safety,” Hudson said. Students say real-life drills like this are better than a paper exam. Staff say this was the first time the emergency response class has been offered at JCM. Teachers say the enrollment for next semester has already increased.
