REMSA Takes Bronze at 2006 JEMS Games

“"This award-winning care is what people in Washoe County receive every day."”
-Adam Heinz, REMSA EMT.

March 26, 2006 - Two REMSA (Regional Emergency Medical Service Authority) paramedics and one emergency medical technician (EMT) returned to northern Nevada with a third place bronze medal after competing in the third annual JEMS (Journal of Emergency Medical Services) Games at the national EMS (Emergency Medical Services) Today Conference in Baltimore, Md.

Benjamin McDermott (EMT-P), Heidi Johnson (EMT-P) and Adam Heinz (EMT-I) competed from March 21-25 in series of emergency medical service related events against 11 other three-man teams across North America and one from London.

Unique to the REMSA team is that their trio consisted of individuals who had never competed before nor prepared for the competition. The remaining 12 teams were made of experts who spend months in preparation for the competition.

The preliminary competition included performing critical pre-hospital assessment skills and treatment to simulated patients including:

1. Identifying hazardous material with binoculars using Emergency Response Guide to determine how far away they should stay.
2. Opening a window and entering it with all equipment in hand.
3. Managing a blocked airway.
4. Starting an I.V.
5. Calculating a dopamine drip.
6. Dragging a 175 pound dummy approximately 30 feet.
7. Shocking, defibrillating and cardioverting a patient.
8. Strapping a dummy to the backboard.
9. Dragging the dummy and equipmnet through a 10-foot tunnel with obstacles.
10. Taking everything up and down a flight of stairs.
11. Getting a patient and equipment secure in ambulance.

The REMSA team was selected as one of five teams to move into the finals where the scenario was based on an aeromedical accident involving multiple patients in which a medical helicopter experienced a hard landing after a "bird strike" in the cockpit bubble. The teams reacted to and managed patient assessments, treatment and transportation challenges. The four patients included a cardiac patient on a balloon pump who was unresponsive; the flight nurse with a minor back injury, but was loud and disruptive; the flight medic who felt his neck “pop” and was then paralyzed; and the pilot who was unresponsive with major facial and neck injuries.

Scoring was based on skill, speed and technical accuracy. The lead paramedic of each team wore a wireless microphone to allow the audience and judges to hear the team’s communications.

At the conclusion of the competition the REMSA team was told by judges they handled the scenario with an "eerie calm," especially for a team that had never competed before. The REMSA team was awarded the third place prize of $500 and more than $1,000 of EMS equipment.

The Fire Department of New York EMS placed first in the competition and the 2005 gold medal winner from Sussex County EMS in Delaware finished second.

REMSA is a private, not-for-profit emergency medical services system serving northern Nevada. REMSA’s state-of-the-art 9-1-1 dispatch communications center is fully accredited, as are all emergency medical transport services of the company. REMSA provides quality patient care with no taxpayer support or other subsidies.

450 Edison Way Reno, Nevada 89502 (775)858-5700 Fax (775)858-5720