By EMS1 Staff
BUNNELL, Fla. — A Florida paramedic team left its home as a United States national title holder and returned as a world champion. After capturing first place in the prestigious three-day Rallye Rejviz 2009 International EMS Competition, the victorious competitors were welcomed home this week from the Czech Republic amid fanfare, congratulations and a “water cannon” salute on the Orlando tarmac.
The Flagler County team — comprised of Dennis Kline, Caryn Prather, Mike Pius, and Cody King — has consistently won awards across the nation.
“The professionalism required to win a paramedic competition at this level is a reflection on the level of service offered to Flagler County residents anytime they call for an ambulance,” said Emergency Services Director Nate McColumn. “We are very pleased and proud of their success in this competition.”
Team leader Kline described the competition and camaraderie as “unbelievable,” and noted that the team was treated like royalty where ever it went.
“It was definitely a big experience,” he said.
The competition consisted of a day of registration, a day of celebration and awards, and an intense 24-hour period of completion including 11 challenging calls involving various types of patients and procedures in the time span of a single shift.
Ninety-eight teams registered in the event, with the Flagler County team participating in the highest tier of 30 teams. Twenty-two of the top 30 had doctors as part of the team, according to Kline. Some teams consisted of two doctors and a paramedic.
“We got to meet people from all over the world — teams from Japan, Hungary, Austria, and Crete — it was just amazing. There was no animosity that we came over from the U.S. and won the competition,” Kline said. “Other teams bowed to us when we came to the dance after the awards ceremony. They played the song “We Are the Champions” and put our team in the middle of a circle.”
The Flagler County team has been entering and winning competitions for more than a year, and won first place in the national competition in Omaha in November.