 |
Career & Technical Education offers a variety of courses to prepare students for real-world careers, and public safety is one of the most impactful. This program equips students with essential life-saving skills and provides incredible opportunities to explore careers in firefighting, law enforcement and emergency response.
At the forefront of this program is Mike Taylor, CTE public safety instructor, who is dedicated to passing along valuable knowledge and hands-on training to his students. Through practical lessons and real-world scenarios, students gain an understanding of how to respond effectively in emergencies.
Public Safety courses cover a broad range of topics to help students build foundational skills for careers in emergency services. Some of the key areas include:
- Firefighting basics – Fire behavior, suppression techniques and the use of firefighting equipment.
- Law Enforcement Principles – Criminal justice system, investigations and ethical policing.
- Emergency Medical Response – First aid, CPR certification and life-saving procedures.
- Disaster Preparedness & Homeland Security – Crisis management, search and rescue, and emergency planning
- Incident Command System – Understanding emergency response coordination, leadership roles and chain of command during crises.
- Physical and Mental Readiness – Training in teamwork, leadership and stress management.
The Incident Command System is a standardized approach to managing emergency situations. It is used by firefighters, law enforcement, emergency medical teams and government agencies to ensure a clear chain of command, efficient communication and coordinated response efforts. Students in public safety courses learn how ICS is applied in real-world disasters, from small emergencies to large-scale incidents. By understanding ICS, students develop leadership skills and gain insight into how emergency responders organize, prioritize, and execute life-saving operations in high-pressure situations.
Public safety courses are offered at Murphy and Hiwassee Dam high schools.
Public safety is more than just a class – it’s an introduction to an exciting and fulfilling career, where students learn the importance of teamwork, quick decision-making and serving others. Whether students plan to pursue a career in public safety or simply wants to be prepared for emergency situations, this offers valuable knowledge that will benefit them for a lifetime.
For students looking for a meaningful and action-packed career, public safety is the perfect place to start.
The writer is career development coordinator with the Career & Technical Education program in Cherokee County Schools. Email her at dana.anderson@cherokee.k12.nc.us.