The Sim Man helps train students in cardiac rhythm techniques.
KING, N.C. – Administration at Forsyth Technical Community College replaced ribbon with crime scene tape during the opening celebration of the Northwest Forsyth Center, signifying the emergency service training that will take place at the new facility.
"You'll find classrooms and laboratories for fire training, law enforcement from basic law enforcement training to forensics, crime scene investigation," Forsyth Tech President Dr. Gary Green said.
The facility in King, N.C., cost $7.7 million and was financed with state bonds.
See how Forsyth Tech's new facility will train students in a multitude of emergency services.
Inside the 40,000 square foot building are state-of-the-art classrooms, like one complete with a living room, bedroom and kitchen. It will be used for crime scene investigation, a field in which law enforcement officials say there is a growing interest.
"Since the program CSI on television, I think the interest in crime scene forensics has increased. And with Forsyth Tech offering those courses here locally, people can get some on-hand experience," Maj. Brad Stanley from the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office said.
Another classroom, the Emergency Medical Services lab, gives students hands-on training with an ambulance and a "Sim Man."
"We have a Sim Man that allows us to do lots of cardiac rhythm, it allows them to defibrillate the actual mannequin as though it were a real person," Forsyth Tech instructor Page Chandler said.
Sen. Richard Burr toured Northwest Forsyth Center Friday. He said it will be a great asset to the area.
"I am passionate about education, but I'm more passionate about the future and the opportunity that people have in the future. And looking around the room, it's not really something that we're going to enjoy. It's something that our children and our grandchildren are going to enjoy," Burr said.
Classes at Forsyth Tech start in August and registration is still open.