The UNC Trauma program hosted eight emergency medical technician (EMT) teams at its 5th annual Paramedic Skills Competition on Tuesday, May 2, at the UNC Hospitals Hillsborough Campus.
Two men hang a banner. One of them has a heart attack and falls off his ladder, knocking his co-worker off of the other ladder. Someone driving by sees the two men lying on the ground and calls 911. First to arrive on the scene are the EMTs who must quickly assess the situation and stabilize the patients.
But on this windy day in Hillsborough, the patients are medical simulation manikins, and the EMTs are working to win points rather than save lives. It’s all part of the 5thannual Paramedic Skills competition, hosted by the UNC Trauma program.
“In some ways it’s an educational event,” said Al Bonifacio, RN, UNC Trauma Program manager, “but to bring these teams in to one place so they can get to know one another, celebrate their craft and for us to thank them for the work they do is something special. It’s something that we are very proud of.”
Each team consisted of three EMTs and was given the same medical scenario – the two men on falling from their ladders. Teams had a limited time to respond and were awarded points based on assessment techniques and treatment standards outlined by the NC Office of Emergency Medical Services.
The competition was judged by Daryhl L Johnson II MD, MPH, FACS, Trauma Medical Director, and assistant professor of surgery in the division of acute care surgery at the UNC School of Medicine, and Jefferson G. Williams, MD, MPH, deputy medical director of the Wake County department of emergency medical services and adjunct clinical assistant professor in the UNC School of Medicine’s department of emergency medicine.
A high school EMT class from Harnett County Central High School was also in attendance to observe the event.
Winners of the event were:
- First Place: Harnett County EMS
- Second place: Guilford County EMS
- Third place: Hoke County EMS
The other teams that participated were:
- Alamance EMS
- Cabarrus EMS
- Cape Fear Valley LifeLINK
- UNC REX Critical Care Transport
- Orange County EMS (winners of last year’s competition)
The competition was a kickoff event for the 28th annual May Day Trauma Conference, an event presented by the UNC Trauma Program that provides a forum for nationally recognized experts in trauma care. The conference is designed to meet the educational needs of trauma care professionals from across the state.
