Mecklenburg Emergency Medical Services’ Michael Dudkowski (left), and John Stroup, III claimed top honors in the 29th Annual Paramedic Competition held Sunday in Greensboro.
GREENSBORO - A team from Mecklenburg Emergency Medical Services Agency took top honors in the 29th Annual Paramedic Competition, held Sunday in Greensboro during the North Carolina EMS Expo, a conference that brings together North Carolina paramedics, emergency medical technicians and county emergency services directors.
The Mecklenburg team’s performance was judged the best among six teams. The teams all face the same scenario as each emerges from sequestration to respond to a mock emergency. This year’s scenario had multiple patients at a coastal beach setting — a shark attack victim, a premature delivery from a pregnant woman and an unresponsive child in cardiac trauma.
It is the first championship for the Mecklenburg agency, known as Medic, and the team of Michael Dudkowski and John Stroup III. Medic provides pre-hospital emergency care in the Charlotte metro area. The team out-performed defending champions Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center’s Aircare team, and four other pairs of regional champions selected following competitions in July from FirstHealth Montgomery, Harnett County EMS, Hoke County EMS and Rowan County ES. The championship competition is sponsored by the North Carolina Office of EMS.
Mecklenburg EMS Paramedic John Stroup, III treats an unresponsive child experiencing cardiac trauma in the 29th annual N.C. Paramedic Competition held Sept. 29, in Greensboro.
Tom Mitchell, chief of the NC Office of Emergency Medical Services, announced the winners Tuesday evening to cheers and applause from a banquet hall packed with hundreds of paramedics, EMTs and county emergency services directors, most of whom observed the teams’ performances on Sunday. Mitchell had words of praise for all this year’s competitors.
"The level of skill and professionalism demonstrated by these paramedic teams is second to none. They are really all winners and represent North Carolina’s best of the best in emergency medical response,” Mitchell said. “We offer our special congratulations to this year’s winners."
In the competition, teams assess, treat and stabilize victims of the scenario for a 13-minute span. They must move quickly and decisively using their education and training to provide care. They may use first responders to assist while they render the most critical care. Teams are judged on professionalism, communication, patient rapport, conduct, attitude, appearance and attire.
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.
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 in providing responses to emergencies and disasters.