North Carolina's Top Paramedic Teams to Compete in Annual Event Sunday, May 3

The 34th annual North Carolina Paramedic Competition will be held Sunday, May 3, at the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Six groups from across the state will compete for the title of Top Paramedic Team during the annual NC Emergency Medical Services Expo. 

Last year’s champions, Cape Fear Cumberland EMS, will be defending their title against five regional champion teams: Alamance County EMS, Atrium WFUBMC AirCare, Cabarrus County EMS, Randolph County Emergency Services and Surry County Emergency Services crews. These teams each won their respective regional competitions held on March 13 in Brunswick, Catawba, Cumberland, Johnston and Surry counties.

The competition brings each team out of isolation, and into a ballroom filled with their peers, to respond to a mock emergency event that is a closely guarded secret. It is part of the 51st annual NC Emergency Medical Services Expo, which runs from Friday, May 1, through Wednesday, May 6.

Each paramedic group will face a scenario carefully designed by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Emergency Medical Services team, in collaboration with the competition’s medical advisor Dr. Bryan Kitch. The goal is to present a life-like situation, often with an unexpected twist, that could resemble what teams may encounter on the job during an emergency response. All teams are challenged to complete a rapid but thorough assessment of the situation and respond with appropriate treatment for all involved patients within a set time limit.

The competition serves as a training opportunity for competitors and the many paramedics, emergency medical technicians and medical directors who closely observe each team's response. Teams are graded on their professionalism, communication, patient rapport, conduct, attitude, appearance and clinical management. The judges panel includes emergency medical services professionals from South Carolina, all with extensive EMS backgrounds.

The winning team is selected based on the judges’ scores and will be announced Tuesday, May 5, at the Emergency Medical Services Expo awards banquet.  

What:
34th annual North Carolina Paramedic Competition 

When:
Sunday, May 3
Noon – 4 p.m. (first team competes at 12:45 p.m.)

Where:
Benton Convention Center
301 W. 5th Street 
Winston-Salem, NC 27101 

Media:
Credentialed media are welcome but requested to stay outside the scenario perimeter and refrain from flash photography during the competition. The audience is prohibited from taking photographs or video during the competition.  

Contact:
Mick Stewart, 919-410-1875

The annual paramedics’ championship competition is co-sponsored by NCDHHS, the NC College of Emergency Physicians and participating community colleges. Through the Office of Emergency Medical Services, NCDHHS works to foster emergency medical systems, trauma systems and credentialed EMS personnel to improve responses to emergencies and disasters. Learn more about the Office of Emergency Medical Services on their website.