COLUMBIA — Emergency medical services students from Columbia State Community College demonstrated clinical excellence and critical thinking at the fourth annual Battle of the Smokies competition, held March 4 in Sevierville, Tennessee.
In the Student Advanced Life Support division, Columbia State's paramedic teams earned first and fourth place finishes, while in the Student Basic Life Support division, the college's advanced EMT teams took both first and second place. Over 25 teams representing community colleges, county EMS agencies and mine rescue crews from across Tennessee competed in the event. The competition featured a realistic emergency scenario in which students had to assess and treat multiple patients after a utility vehicle struck a telephone pole, with judges evaluating how quickly students assessed patients, the quality of their medical interventions, and their speed in preparing patients for transport. Gregory S. Johnson, Columbia State's EMS program director, praised the students' performance. "These AEMT and paramedic students performed at an incredible level of skill and showcased their ability to think critically in a very complex situation," Johnson said. Students also earned eight hours of continuing education credits through their participation in the competition and related conference.
For more information about the Columbia State EMS program, visit www.columbiastate.edu/academics/emt-paramedic.