Paramedic competition sharpens skills

Dozens of paramedics gathered in Whitby today to compete in the National Paramedic Competition.

The one-day event uses common real-life scenarios with actors to test and challenge paramedics and paramedic students. Teams are divided into three categories— advanced care, primary care and the student division.

This year, 34 teams competed, including one from the Netherlands.

Shane Eickmann of Niagara EMS put it this way: “I think the strength of the competition is really excellence through challenge, and getting information out to the public so educating everybody about what paramedics do, the different levels of skills in practice.”

“It’s a fun day, everybody competes, we get to meet people from not only Canada but North America and around the world.”

The National Paramedic Competition began in 2003. Since then, paramedic teams have traveled to Whitby every year to take part in the event.

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