Magen David Adom (MDA) is the national EMS system of Israel, treating and transporting 500,000 patients per year, with one third requiring ALS intervention.
One method the MDA employs to ensure best practice among its members is to host an international ALS and BLS competition. This competition aims to measure, evaluate and grade the professional treatment ability of competing EMS teams. The organisations which enter teams into this competition are: Magen David Adom in Israel, the Israel Defence Forces and EMS Teams from the international community.
Ireland competed in this years ALS competition. The team comprised of team captain – Mick Lynch, Advanced Paramedic; Bryan Kelly, Advanced Paramedic; and Valerie Walsh, Paramedic. Training for the competition was conducted on location in the Emergency Department of the Mercy Hospital Cork, Mallow Fire Station and Civil Defence HQ Skibbreen, was coordinated by Paul O’Driscoll Advanced Paramedic, and Dr. Jason Van Der Velde. Sponsorship was provided by the PreHospital Emergency Care Council.
The competition was held over two days, with five scenarios each day and one night station, which was held on the first night of the competition. As the working environment in the Middle East can be challenging, competitors were required tobe physically fit and be able to work well within a team.
Each medical scenario lasted 40 minutesand patient treatment was evaluated against protocols used in international EMS organisations, the MDA and the American Heart Association. Throughout the scenarios, trained actors and advanced mannequins were used to simulate trauma or medical emergencies in adult, paediatric and neonatal patients. |
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The Irish team found the experience to be both challenging and educational. The team found the progression from CPG 2 TO CPG 3 has moved Irish ALS practice closer to standards practiced by other long-established EMS providers. The insights gained into other EMS systems during this competition has helped to confirm that Irish Advanced Paramedic and Paramedic practice is being developed in line with our counterparts on the world stage and provided the team with a view to where possible future developments will take place within pre-hospital practice in Ireland.
Valerie Walsh, Bryan Kelly, Dr Zvi Feigenberg, Medical Director MDA in Israel, Mick Lynch, Irish Team Captain. Presentation to Dr Zvi Feigenberg, Medical Director MDA in Israel by the Irish team of a Replica of the Fastnet Rock which is the nearest part of Ireland to Israel being the most southerly point in Ireland.
The team wishes to thank Adanced Paramedics Kieran Henry and Brigid Wall for their expert advise and outstanding training sessions. The team also wishes to thank the Paramedics who acted as patients for the training sessions: Micheal Dineen, Jennifer Flahaven, Eammon Byrne and Des Quinn.
The team wishes to thank and acknowledge the support received from PHECC.
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