The Intelligencer
Copyright 2008 Osprey Media
DURHAM, Ontario — Loyalist College paramedic students placed a healthy first at the sixth annual skills competition sponsored by the Durham Paramedic Association.
Rick Wright and Chelsea Robertson brought home the gold medal as the winning team.
Meanwhile, Pam Foster and Frank Puliso also represented Loyalist and finished sixth.
There were 29 teams entered in the competition held earlier this month in Oshawa, with only 12 teams coming from the Ontario college system.
The competition consisted of skill stations, scenarios and written testing. Contestants’ knowledge was challenged in area ranging from control of mass casualty incidents to cardiac arrest.
Robertson said the gold medal win was amazing.
“We spent months preparing with our instructors and fellow classmates...we ran everything from full neonatal delivery scenarios to multiple casualty scenarios,” she said. “It always feels great to know that you worked so hard and won.”
Loyalist’s paramedic program is offered at the Bancroft campus on a part-time basis. Tom Malloy, dean of skills training, access and continuing education, said students are drawn to its program for the convenience of being able to complete their courses on a part-time basis while continuing to work in their regular jobs.