MCHD EMS team earns award in Europe By: Catherine Self, Courier staff June 07, 2002 What seems to be common practice for paramedics with the Montgomery County Hospital District is what helps them take first place in an international Emergency Medical Service competition overseas. MCHD paramedics Ricky Wood and Cindy Kennedy took first place in the 20-hour competition against 25 teams held in Czech Republic May 24. A second MCHD team of Casey Wood and John Baldwin took 14th. This is the first time any American EMS teams have placed in the top 15 of the competition. And while the teams weren't competing, they were busy teaching classes to share their skills and knowledge with emergency workers overseas. "We are the greatest," said Allen Johnson, EMS director for MCHD. "I think it speaks volumes for the caliber of people that work here in Montgomery County; number one that we were invited overseas to teach, but to win the competition." Johnson said he was proud to be setting the standard in the region, but "it's an enormous sense of pride to know that we are influencing medical care around the world." Dr. Jay Kovar, medical director for MCHD, said MCHD's teams competed against teams that were physician based, meaning the ambulance was staffed with a doctor. EMS services like MCHD are paramedic based. Those paramedics, unlike the doctors, are trained in dealing with trauma situations. "A lot of the physicians are not trained in emergency medical care," Kovar said. "A lot of them, throughout Europe, have a background in anesthesiology or surgery or something else. They are not the emergency physicians we have in the United States." Kovar said he has been traveling overseas for the past eight years to teach and lecture about emergency medical practices here in the United States. He said he learned about the competition and inquired about MCHD attending. "What I decided to do was take a few and go and compete," he said. "I solicited donations around the county; the hospital district didn't pay for the trip." Kovar said he was excited about the way the MCHD team performed. "Everybody felt we did really good, but we had no idea we would win," Kovar said. For more information about MCHD's EMS program call (936) 539-1160. �The Courier 2002 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! - Official partner of 2002 FIFA World Cup http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com
