World champs crowned in Denmark
PARAMEDICS from the East Midlands were crowned world champions at a medical competition in Copenhagen.
The team of four first aiders from East Midlands Ambulance Service were named EMS2018 champions and were also the audience’s favourite at the contest in the Danish capital.
They were the only British team to reach the finals and had to deal with a mock road traffic collision between a car and a bicycle, involving five patients with serious injuries including a gunshot wound.
An audience of 1,400 clinicians looked on as the team worked under spotlights in the centre of the arena.
The four had only met twice in training before the competition but they were able to swiftly deal with the incident.
East Midlands Ambulance Service was one of just two NHS ambulance trusts in the UK to qualify for one of the 12 spots at the championship, with the Scottish Ambulance Service taking the other place.
Ricky Harrison from Derby- shire was one of the teammates.
He said: “Our hard work has paid off and we are so happy to have won; although it is still a bit of a shock.
“It’s amazing to think that six weeks ago we didn’t know each other, but we worked really well as a team.
“Dealing with emergency scenarios is what we do every day, it is our bread and butter, so we just pretended it was a real job and did the best we could for the people who were injured.”
The preliminary round included dealing with a man who had been electrocuted and fallen from a ladder and a young child who had gone into cardiac arrest.
The championship was part of a three-day medical conference and all ambulance services in the world are able to enter the competition.
As the winners, the team is guaranteed a place in the EMS2019 Championship.
Leicestershire paramedic Ross Ludford, 26, from Market Harborough, was one of the teammates.