Fairdale High School students training to become first responders with hands-on experience

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- JCPS students are getting hands on training to become first responders as Louisville faces a major shortage.

Louisville Metro Police, Louisville Fire Department and EMS are all short critical employees. LMPD is short 260 officers, Louisville Fire needs 38 more firefighters while Louisville EMS has 100 open positions.

A program at Fairdale High School is trying to provide a solution to the shortage.

"Trying to find people to work is tough," said Dan Shirley, a senior instructor at Fairdale High School. "We need help from everywhere."

On Tuesday, nearly 100 Fairdale students in the Civil and Public Service academies responded to a massive simulated car wreck. The students acted as EMTs, police officers, firefighters and victims.

FAIRDALE EMS — Fairdale High School students participated in an emergency response exercise on May 7, 2024 in Louisville, Ky.

Alongside real professionals, the students triaged victims, removed car doors and located a bomb.

"You have to have a lot of patience," Shaylynn Keeney said.

The exercise included real vehicles that were upside down and a car under a tractor trailer truck as part of a multi-vehicle crash. As part of the scenario, a storm delayed emergency response to the crash scene, so Fairdale's fire, law enforcement and nursing students had to help victims before emergency crews arrived.

"Learn how to operate in chaotic situations," said Braelyn Morton.

The students were joined by a real medical helicopter and professionals from four local ambulance services and six fire departments.

Juan Long, a senior, is considering a future as a firefighter.

"Coming out of middle school, I didn't know what I wanted to do," Long said. "If I do do it, I think I'd enjoy it."

Students in the pathway leave certified to become a 911 dispatcher.

"I had kids that were juniors, they are now seniors, until they did this they didn't want to be a firefighter," Shirley said. "Now I've got two of them that are going through the application process at Anchorage Middletown."

Students can also take a CPAT test, which is the physical ability test to be firefighter.

"We are the only high school in the country that can do this," Shirley said.

20 seniors will graduate from the program this year.

"It means a lot to these kids more than they'll ever show," Shirley said.

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