A team from Surry County Emergency Services gave the top performance during a judged competition with five other teams at this week's North Carolina Paramedic Championship.
Jose Butron and Josh LeCrone claimed top honors following the 26th Annual Paramedic Competition, held at the Koury Convention Center during the Emergency Medicine Today Conference.
They out-performed defending champions from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Roger Horton and Barry McMillian, and four other pairs of champions selected following regional competitions in July from Rowan County EMS, Cabarrus County EMS, Hoke County EMS and an additional team from Surry County. The championship competition is co-sponsored by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services and the N.C. College of Emergency Physicians, and participating community colleges.
Tom Mitchell, chief of the N.C. Office of Emergency Medical Services, announced the winners Tuesday night to cheers and applause from a banquet hall packed with hundreds of EMS professionals and county emergency services medical directors. Mitchell praised the competing teams.
"All of this year’s competitors have shown dedication to their profession and their communities through preparation and hard work,” Mitchell said. “They are the best of the best and are on the cutting edge in emergency medical response. We offer our special congratulations to this year’s winners from Surry County."
Teams were sequestered and drew lots to determine their order as each was called out to face a room full of peers while treating injuries from a failed infant abduction.
In the scenario, the competing team arrives on the scene to treat an unspecified number of victims. The only information they have comes from dispatch and what they are able to glean as they assess the scene. Shortly after the team arrives, a police officer on scene dealing with a gunshot victim discovers a sobering situation in an adjacent bathroom: the gunshot victim and her accomplice had stalked a pregnant woman, drugged her and attempted to snatch her unborn child through a crude Caesarean section. Both are in critical condition and must be rapidly assessed and treated. The teams have 12 minutes to assess, treat and stabilize all victims.
The competition provides a training opportunity not only for the competitors, but also for the paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians who closely observe each team's analysis and reaction to the scenario from bleachers positioned a short distance away. Large video screens display close-up views of procedures as teams administer care. Teams are judged on patient care, professionalism, communication, patient rapport, conduct, attitude, appearance and attire.
Through the Office of Emergency Medical Services, the Department of Health and Human Services works to foster emergency medical systems, trauma systems and credentialed EMS personnel to improve responses to emergencies and disasters.
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