Emergency responders compete, learn at annual competition in Gaston County

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — Dozens of emergency responders from all around the world are better prepared for emergencies after a special competition Sunday in Gaston County.

It's not a real emergency, but in the annual competition, teams of emergency responders from all over the world put their skills to the test.

Emergency responders came from as far as Australia, Canada and the Netherlands, to compete in the National Tactical Medicine Competition hosted by the Special Operations Aid & Rescue.

The multi-stage course is physically and mentally challenging, from providing care in a hostile environment to treating casualties with limited resources.

"A lot of these guys do have a military background, but a lot of these guys are mostly attached to local EMS services, police departments, some are on SWAT teams, but we're all here to be better providers at the end of the day,” said Ben Specht, public information officer with Special Operations Aid & Rescue.

The competition also included challenging rescues, such as like lowering patients from the top of a building.

"It was a challenging course, pushed us to the limits, that's for sure,” said Ben Davoren, a paramedic from Australia.

While the important work they do is the same all around the globe, not all of these medics are able to train with high-quality equipment like they did Sunday.

“The equipment they've got here, the simulations, were just amazing, nothing we've seen before,” said Timothy Makrides, a paramedic from Australia.

The competition also allows emergency responders to figure out how they can improve life-saving skills and take that knowledge back to their own communities.

“Getting some good feedback so we can grow ourselves as tactical medical practitioners,” Davoren said.

This competition is always planned the same weekend as the Special Operations Medical Association Conference, which is hosted each year in Charlotte.

Cox Media Group