US STATE NEWS

Flagler County's Paramedic Competition Team has done it again, this time on an international scale. The Team has been winning awards across the nation and now has won first place in an international competition at Rallye Rejviz 2009 in the Czech Republic, a three day EMS competition. Flagler County finished in first place and the only other team from the U.S. the Fire Department of New York City finished third.

"The professionalism required to win a paramedic competition at this level is a reflection on the level of service offered Flagler County residents anytime they call for an ambulance," Emergency Services Director Nate McColumn said. "We are very pleased and proud of their success in this competition." Team leader Dennis Kline's description of the competition and the comradery was "unbelievable" Kline said where ever the team went they were treated like royalty. "It was definitely a big experience," Kline said.

The three day competition consisted of a day of registration, a day of celebration and awards after the event and a 24 hour period of intense completion that included 11 "calls" during the "shift" which were the competition events. There were 98 teams registered in the event and the Flagler County team was in the high category of 30 teams. Kline said 22 of the top 30 had Doctors as part of the team. Some of the teams consisted of two doctors and a paramedic. "We got to meet people from all over the world. Teams from Japan, Hungary, Austria Crete, it was just amazing. There was no animosity that we came over from the US and won the competition," Kline said. "Other teams were bowing to us when we came to the dance after the awards ceremony and they played the song "We are the champions" and put our team in the middle of a circle." The team also won first place in a national competition in Omaha Nebraska in November.

Teams from all over the region and the nation competed in the event including the New York City Fire Department. The Flagler County team has been entering and winning competitions for more than a year. The team has sponsors that pay for the travel and hotel stays and the team uses the experience to train on duty crews at Flagler County's fire stations. They were also got the support of the Flagler County Commission for the international competition. Flagler County's team uses the skills they learn in competition to provide extensive EMS training to the fire departments throughout Flagler County. The team members are Paramedic and Team Leader Dennis Kline, Paramedic Caryn Prather, Lieutenant Mike Pius, and Paramedic Cody King.

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June 4, 2009