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Creighton University

Any EMS agency currently providing pre-hospital basic or advanced life support services are invited to enter one team in each division of competition (ALS and/or BLS).  A total of ten (20) team slots are available for all divisions.  Team slots will be filled on a first come first serve basis.  A Standby List will be maintained for agencies that wish to have more than one team compete in the same division.  Slots still open after October 30, 2008 may be filled by these agencies, based on date received at CU EMS Education office. 

ALS Division

Each team will be composed of three (3) persons who must function in a pre-hospital setting.   Paramedics, RNs and military medics who function in the EMS environment are eligible; at least one team member must be a paramedic. Each team may have one (1) EMT in place of an ALS member.  Teams may have one alternate member to fill in or video tape the team when necessary.  Physicians are not eligible to compete

BLS Division

Each team will be composed of three (3) persons who must function in a pre-hospital setting.  First Responders and EMT’s who function in the EMS environment are eligible, at least one team member must be an EMT. Teams may have one alternate member to fill in or video tape the team when necessary.  The BLS Competition will be scored on BLS skills only. Paramedics and physicians are not eligible to compete.

Refer to Guidelines for Procedures for ALS and BLS skills.

ALS Scenario judging is based on the most current editions of the following resources:

• BCLS Guidelines, AHA
• ACLS Guidelines, American Heart Association
• Emergency Care, Brady Publishing
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (AHA/AAP)
• PEPP AAP Jones and Bartlett Publishing Revised
• Paramedic Emergency Care, Brady Publishing
• PHTLS , Mosby Publishing Revised
• US DOT 1998 EMT-P Curriculum
• US DOT 1994 EMT-B Curriculum
• U.S.  Standards for weights and measures as stated in reference material.

BLS Scenario judging is based on the most current editions of the following resources:

• BCLS Guidelines, AHA
• US DOT 1994 EMT-B Curriculum
• PHTLS , Mosby Publishing
• Emergency Care, Brady Publishing
• U.S.  Standards for weights and measures as stated in reference material

All participants must adhere to the following equipment guidelines:

1. Equipment bags and packs should be of comparable size and type commonly available and used in the EMS industry.  There may be no more than five (5) carry in bags and/or boxes, and no equipment may be affixed to the outside of bags and packs.
2. Backboards, stretchers and hand carts will not be allowed into the sequestering or competition areas.
3. The alternate team member will not be allowed to carry any equipment that will be used by the team in the scenario and may only carry one (1) still camera and one (1) video camera into the scenario.  There will be an area designated for alternates to film the scenario.  Purposeful movement out of the designated area or prompting team members may result in team disqualification.
4. Teams are required to provide for the safe disposal of their own sharps.
5. Each team must have their own equipment.  The sharing of equipment between teams will not be allowed.
6. If a team does not have the ability to provide their own equipment Creighton University EMS will provide them with a generic set to the teams.  This equipment will be able to be viewed and checked prior to your scenario.
7. No mechanical CPR or ventilation devices will be allowed.
8. No charts, drug cards, rulers, measuring or counting devices or calculators will be allowed except for one length-based pediatric assessment device.
9. No computers, pagers, radios, PDA’s or cellular telephones will be allowed in the sequestering or competition areas.  These items should be secured prior to check-in.  Creighton University EMS Education or the Committee staff is not responsible for lost or damaged equipment.
10. None of the standard references or individual protocol manuals will be permitted in the sequestering area.  Any reading material must be left in the sequestering area prior to entering the competition area and will only be retrievable at the end of the day.  Creighton University EMS Education or the Committee staff is not responsible for lost or damaged materials.
11. No weapons will be allowed in the sequestering or competition areas.
12. No equipment may be removed from the bags until instructed to do so. 

Equipment Provided

It is understood that some teams may have difficulty transporting some types of equipment such as oxygen tanks and drug boxes to the Competition.  A limited supply of such equipment will be available. 

The following equipment will be provided to each team for use during the Competition:

1. Monitor/defibrillator with patient and pacer cables or SAED/AED trainer with patient defibrillator cables and pads. 
2. Backboards with CID (blanket rolls) and straps. 
3. One (1) BLS airway kit containing an oxygen tank, regulator, adult BVM and oxygen masks.

Equipment to be supplied by team 

The following is the maximum allowable equipment list:

Pulse oximetry unit** 1
Glucometer** 1
Thermometer** 1
ETCO2 (electronic) ** 1
Oxygen bottle 1
Laryngoscope handle plus blades 2 (sets)

** These must be independent units unless commercially available otherwise.

For a list of recommended equipment, please refer to Essential Equipment for Ambulances, by the Committee on Trauma, American College of Surgeons, (revised, March 1994).  This list represents the equipment necessary to enable the team to properly function during the scenario.  This list should be used as a guideline.

All participants must adhere to the following recommendations for stocking their drug box or pack:

1. The drug box should include drugs of sufficient type and quantity. 
2. The drug box need not contain actual drug solutions.  However, syringes or vials must be filled with water or other solution in the appropriate amount. 
3. Syringes and boxes may be labeled to represent medications not normally carried by a particular team, but labels must include the same information normally found (name, concentration, amount, etc.) and should be of a volume consistent with commercially available preparations.  Information regarding drug dosage for administration will not be allowed. 
4. Each medication must be contained in its original packaging OR contained within a sealed bag such as a seal-a-meal type bag or Ziploc-type bag.  This includes ALL preassembled medication preparations. 
5. Pre-connected IV administrations sets are not allowed.  Each IV administration set must be sealed in its original package OR contained within a sealed bag such as a seal-a-meal type bag or Ziploc-type bag.  IV solutions and IV administrations may not be placed in the same sealed bags. 
6. All equipment that is routinely found sealed in a protective package, i.e.  ET tubes, syringes, etc.  must be sealed in its original package OR contained within a sealed bag such as a seal-a-meal type bag or Ziploc-type bag. 
7. Premixed bags of Dopamine, Lidocaine, and nitroglycerine are allowed if properly labeled and packaged.

Equipment Innovations

All equipment innovations must be cleared by Creighton University EMS Education.   All communications regarding potential innovations will be held in the strictest confidence.

Equipment Substitutions

In lieu of an actual piece of equipment, a marked box may be used for a glucometer, pulse oximetry unit, ETCO2 detector or an O2 manifold.  These units must be independent unless commonly available otherwise.

Definition of PPE

For the purpose of the Competition, personal protective equipment (PPE) consists of a minimum of gloves and eye protection used at all times during the scenario.  Due to communication interference, respiratory protection will not be required during the Competition.

Sharps must be disposed of appropriately and accomplished in a manner that does not expose a team member or any other person present to potential danger and which does not contaminate other equipment.

1. The “patient” may consist of, but may not be limited to: 
   • An actual person.
   • Manikin (infant, pediatric and/or adult).
   • Intubation trainer or comparable trainer (infant, pediatric and/or adult).
   • Other specific procedure training devices.
2. Teams will be instructed when they may don any PPE necessary.
3. Procedures will be carried out in as realistic manner as possible.  Procedures and medication administration will take place in real time.  IV infusion rates will be monitored.  Most procedures, including spinal immobilization/patient packaging, will actually be carried out; however, some procedures will require only explanations of such components as equipment required, indications, contradictions, complications, and the actual procedure technique.  Which procedures will require performance and which will require explanation only will be defined as part of the scenario.  You should be prepared to perform any procedure contained in the resource texts for the Competition.  You will receive an outline of the Guidelines for Procedures with confirmation of your registration.
4. Team members will receive information and feedback from a clearly identified Feedback/Lead Judge.  Scoring Judges cannot provide feedback.
5. During patient assessment, examination elements will only be scored when verbalized to the judges (e.g.  “What do I feel when I palpate the chest?”) and simultaneously performed.
6. Teams are encouraged to request appropriate back-up response (such as helicopter evacuation, law enforcement, or special rescue teams).  You will be informed at the time of request of the availability of such resources.

A briefing will be held for all teams just prior to the Competition.  Only team members and one alternate will be allowed in the sequestering area.  All teams are encouraged to wear their agency uniform or other identifying clothing.  The sequestering room may get cold so team members may want to bring a sweater or a jacket. 

Videotaping of your team's scenarios is allowed from a designated/fixed position. Moving from the fixed position will result in disqualification of your team. Videotapes will not be allowed as a basis for judging challenge.

The Awards Ceremony will be held immediately after the competition.