The 2013 Carolina Competition- Rules and Requirements
1.0 COMPETITION ENTRY
1.1 Forms to enter The Carolina Competition will be provided by The Carolina Competition Committee (mailed out,
or available online in a printable version).
1.2 Entry is open to any Rescue/EMS Agency (paid or volunteer, air or ground, state/local/federal) of NC or SC
providing advanced (paramedic) level care. Teams must be sponsored by a pre-hospital EMS agency, and both team members
must be from the same agency and be dressed in the same identifying uniform type.
1.3 The Carolina Competition is a two-day event. The same team members will be required to compete both days.
1.4 Entry forms for competing teams must be mailed to The Carolina Competition in order to arrive by the posted
deadline. Faxed or emailed entry forms are NOT accepted. These MUST be accompanied by payment of the entry fee.
1.5 All Entry Fees are Non-Refundable unless a team is unable to compete as listed in rule 1.6.
1.6 A maximum of one (1) team will be allowed to compete in the event from any one individual service as a “primary”
participant. A “secondary” team from the same service will be allowed to enter and compete in the event once the deadline for
entries has passed for “primary” teams, and providing that there are still openings for teams available.
1.7 A maximum of TEN (10) teams will be entered this year.* This will be on a “first come-first served” basis. Teams will
be considered entered only when the team’s fully completed entry form and fee is received- NO EXCEPTIONS A substitution list of
teams entered will be maintained, in case one of the original teams will not be able to attend, or a service wishes to enter a
second team. These “secondary” teams will be placed on the waiting list in the order that their entry form and fee is received. A
refund of entry fee for those teams not being able to compete in one of the ten designated spaces will be refunded within seven
days after the conclusion of the event. Entry forms will not be received prior to the posted "opening date" for entries as indicated
on the entry form.
*The total number of teams allowed to compete in any given year is subject to change, based on a mutual agreement between the
Host Service and the Carolina Competition committee taking into consideration scenario design, time restraints, judging, etc.
1.8 Service members of the “hosting service” are not eligible to participate in the event.
1.9 One member from each team shall be designated as the Team Captain.
1.10 Both members of the team must arrive on-site, and be “checked in” at the registration area, prior to the
published team and judges meeting time in order to be eligible to compete.
2.0 COMPETITION AREA
2.1 The Carolina Competition Committee will designate the competition areas to include meeting spaces or rooms,
sequestering locations, areas of scenario moulage, competition, and score sheet tabulation.
2.2 Persons authorized to be in the competition areas are:
1. The Carolina Competition Committee (Event Staff)
2. Competition judges (Event Staff)
3. Competing team members (two from each team) during their designated time to compete.
4. Victims and patients
5. One photographer from each team
2.3 No unauthorized persons or spectators will be allowed within the boundaries of the designated competition area.
2.4 Spectators will have a designated viewing area and it is suggested that they bring a folding chair.
3.0 COMPETITION PROBLEM SCENARIOS
3.1 The problem scenarios will be the responsibility of The Carolina Competition Committee or their designate.
3.2 In the event a problem scenario is constructed toward a specific method, the team captain shall be notified as
to the appropriate method.
3.3 Each competing team shall be given two, separate problem scenarios to work, identical to those given to the
other teams. There may be multiple patients and multiple locations of patients for a team to treat within their
individual problem scenario.
3.4 One (1) team will compete at a time during the event.
3.5 The Carolina Competition Committee shall set time limits for each problem scenario.
3.6 No improvising in patient care will be permitted, except where instructed by the Chairman or a judge.
3.7 The scenarios will be held regardless of weather conditions unless it is determined by the Chairman that such
conditions pose a hazard (greater than usual duty conditions) such as severe, close lightning or extremely
high winds, etc. The scenarios may be held outdoors, indoors, or a in a combination of both.
3.8 An approved drug is any drug that is approved as part of the formulary by SC DHEC or the NCOEMS (depending what state you
are entering from) that is approved for use by EVERY service in that state. Pilot study and experimental drugs are not approved for
use in this event. Drugs being used during the event do not have to be “in date”.
3.9 An approved treatment procedure is any procedure that is approved as is listed in Rule 3.8 by SC DHEC or NCOEMS. Again,
pilot study and experimental treatment procedures are not allowed.
4.0 COMPETITION SCORING
4.1 Every effort is made to assure fair and consistent evaluation by the judges. The very best possible decision will
be made at the time of the team's judging. Decisions are not subject to later interpretation or to video replay.
The decisions of the judges and Event Chairman are final. Great pride is taken in the security built around the
scenario's score sheets and scenario subject matter.
4.2 All score sheets shall be designed for each specific problem scenario and judges will receive score sheets
reflecting only the items needed to be scored by that judge.
4.3 In the event a score sheet is written toward a specific method of care, the team captain shall be notified which
method is appropriate.
4.4 All score sheets and their contents shall be held in strict confidence by The Carolina Competition Committee
and judges.
4.5 The Carolina Competition Committee chairman will secure each score sheet from each judge immediately after
each problem scenario is completed.
4.6 It shall be the Carolina Competition Committee’s responsibility to accurately tabulate all score sheets.
4.7 In the event of a tie, the Event Chairman (acting as overall team judge) will determine the winner based on the total and overall
observation of the team’s performance during the course of the two scenarios. Items such as professionalism, team
communication, patient treatment methods, organization and neatness, and scene safety.
4.8 Failure of a competing team to complete the entire contents of any problem scenario will result in points lost, as
points will only be awarded on the part(s) of the problem scenario actually completed by the team.
4.9 Completed score sheets shall not be given to the competing teams.
4.10 Awards for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place teams will be given. The scores of the two scenarios will be
averaged to come up with a final “team score”.
5.0 COMPETITION VICTIMS
5.1 Victims for the problem scenarios will be thoroughly briefed on their role in the problem scenario(s) the day of
the event to maintain a high security level.
5.2 Victims will be instructed on what information they are to provide to the competing teams. The victims will not
volunteer any information and will speak only when spoken to by a competing team member.
5.3 Unconscious victims will neither speak nor provide any information, however bystanders if present may be asked
for any information that may assist the competing team in their capability to provide care to the victim(s). The
judges will only provide information about the unconscious victim if asked by a team member.
5.4 A problem scenario may have more than one victim or patient.
5.5 Some victims may be manikins, and should be considered unconscious. In this case: “what you see is what
you've got”.
6.0 VIDEO/COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT
6.1 Only The Carolina Competition Committee Chairman shall grant any use of video or communication equipment
in the competition scenario boundaries.
6.2 Video equipment used to film The Carolina Competition within the scenario boundaries may be from:
a. The Carolina Competition Committee. (Event Staff, this individual must be on the official membership roster of
either Marlboro Rescue or the host service). Due to the potential for liability, and the possible misuse of event
images, no "freelance" or other service photographers will be allowed without contract.
b. Media representatives (invited to cover the event for professional broadcast or print) or professional, licensed,
photographers/videographers (with a written contract for payment) and with prior permission from the Event
Chairman. One photographer from each team will be allowed to take pictures of their team, but must identify
themselves to the Event Chairman as such.
6.3 Spectators (anyone not listed under rule 6.2) may video or photograph only from the designated spectator area.
All images will be for personal use only and may not be published, sold, or displayed for public viewing.
6.4 Video equipment that is allowed by The Carolina Competition committee chairman under Rule 6.2, shall be
placed so as to not block or interfere with any competing team member or judge.
6.5 Videotape pictures or photographs shall not be used as evidence to change any judge's decision made during
The Carolina Competition.
6.6 Communications equipment (radios, walkie-talkies, pagers, and cell phones) may not be used, or be in the possession of, the
competing teams either on their person or in their emergency vehicles during The Carolina Competition until after they have
competed. In the situation where two teams are competing from the same service, both teams must have finished competing
before these devices can be used by any team member from that service. The possession of any of these devices in any form or
manner as described above is grounds for disqualification. Team members are urged to notify family and friends of the extreme
importance and consequences of this rule if not followed. Postings to You Tube, Face Book, My Space, or any other social
network media site, are not permitted until after the Awards Banquet at the conclusion of the event. Teams in violation of this
“posting” rule will be disqualified.
7.0 EQUIPMENT & PERSONAL ITEMS
7.1 Competing teams will be asked to provide equipment for competition by The Carolina Competition committee.
7.2 Stocked drug boxes/bags will be required. Drugs are NOT required to be “in date”.
7.3 No mechanical CPR (compression) devices will be permitted.
7.4 Pre-connected IV’s or drug administration sets will not be permitted.
7.5 Drug cards, charts, books, manuals, guides, references, etc., with exception of one Broselow (length-based treatment guide)
Tape will not be allowed.
7.6 Calculators, PDA’s, Computers, or any other mechanical storage device will not be permitted.
7.7 Only (1) Cardiac Monitor/Defibrillator/ 12 Lead device will be permitted per team.
7.8 All equipment must be in place (within the confines of the emergency vehicle being used by the competing team) and be ready
for inspection at the request of the Carolina Competition Committee.
7.9 The Carolina Competition Committee may institute a “limited equipment” demand on a scenario. The teams will
be advised what equipment will be permitted to be used prior to the scenario in such a case.
7.10 Loss, damage, or breakage of equipment during the Carolina Competition shall be the responsibility of the
competing team.
7.11 All competition teams must provide an emergency vehicle/ambulance fully stocked with equipment, supplies, and drugs to be
used by the team during the event.
8.0 COMPETITION TEAMS
8.1 A yearly "set" maximum of teams may be entered in the event, and a maximum of 1 team will be entered from any
one service/county until such time the deadline for team entries is passed. At that point, a second team may be entered if space
permits as listed in Rules 1.6 and 1.7.
8.2 2 teams from the same EMS group/county may share one emergency medical unit (as required in rule 7.12) if properly entered
in the event as listed in Rules 1.6 and 1.7.
8.3 The team shall consist of two (2) members, at least one must be certified at the Paramedic level, or be in
school for same. Physicians are not eligible to compete.
8.4 The team captain shall submit a written list of team member’s names to The Carolina Competition committee
chairman at the team’s check-in and registration upon arrival, or verify that they are the same members as listed
on the registration form.
8.5 All team members must be registered in advance of the Carolina Competition team and judges meeting on
Friday.
8.6 All team members shall be in some form of identifying service uniform, shirt, “turnout” gear, or jumpsuit.
8.7 No team will be allowed to “borrow” a competing team member from another team during The Carolina
Competition event.
8.8 The competing teams will be “incommunicado” during the contest. Conferring with others outside the contest
area will be subject to investigation and possible disqualification by The Carolina Competition Committee
Chairman. This rule is to include the use of any communications equipment including radios, pagers, cell
phones (either via voice or text) or walkie-talkies as listed in section 6.5 above.
8.9 All team members will meet with The Carolina Competition Committee in the team member’s meeting prior to the
start of the event. At this meeting, any questions or concerns about the event can be discussed and clarified.
9.0 JUDGES
9.1 The Carolina Competition Committee will determine the minimum number of judges. The judges do not have to
be on the official membership rosters of either Marlboro County Rescue or the host service.
9.2 Judging will be based on: National Registry Practical Skills standards, current Brady and Mosby Paramedic
Textbooks, AHA Guidelines for BCLS, ACLS, PALS, US DOT Curriculums, and any guidelines published by the
O.E.M.S. (NC) and D.H.E.C.-Division of E.M.S. (SC).
9.3 Judges will be assigned and may be rotated at the discretion of The Carolina Competition Committee Chairman.
9.4 The judges will be present at the team members meeting conducted by The Carolina Competition Committee.
9.5 The judges, or any member of The Carolina Competition Committee, reserve the right to stop the problem
scenarios at any time due to extensive delay, lack of safety precautions, or misconduct on the part of any
team or team members.
9.6 All judges will receive a copy of the problem scenarios and the corresponding score sheet for the patient that they are to
judge during the scenario..
9.7 Judges shall observe the team member and designated patient that they are judging continually during the problem scenarios
and score only
the parts that they observe and were instructed to score.
9.8 At no time will a judge make a comment as to a team’s performance during the event.
9.9 At no time will any competing team be allowed to see or be told orally how their own team, or any other team,
scored on the problem scenarios, or their overall ranking until this information is revealed at the Awards Banquet.
9.10 Judges will not be allowed to leave the competition area until the completion of the event, except for personal
breaks with the notification of the Event Chairman.
9.11 Judges may inspect required equipment prior to each teams competing in the event.
10.0 WRITTEN EXAMINATION
10.1 A 75 question, multiple choice, written exam is optional for any participant of the Carolina Competition. It will be administered
with a 45-minute time limit.
10.2 The written examination is based on the National D.O.T. Paramedic Curriculum (National Registry), current
EMS journals and textbooks, and standards including ACLS, BTLS, PEPP, BCLS, and PHTLS.
10.3 The written examination will be administered at a time and place, so as to not interfere with the other
competition events. The exam has been designed by the Event Chairman. It is designed to stimulate EMS
personnel to read journals, textbooks, and other literature on recent concepts in pre-hospital care in preparation for the written
exam. The exam will not be seen by anyone other than the Event Chairman until it is administered to insure a high level of security.
10.4 The three participants with the highest scores will be awarded plaques, this is not a team event.