Rule 1 – Team makeup
Each team will consist of 4 members per contest, one of whom shall be designated as the team captain. An alternate team member may be listed on the application. Alternates are to stay with their team at all times. They are to be kept in the area of the written test but are not allowed to take the test.
Rule 2 – Team Captain
The Team Captain of each team shall take an active part in all contest work. The team Captain shall act as the official spokesman for the team.
Rule 3 – Team Equipment
Each team must provide its own emergency care kit and is expected to utilize its personal and/or everyday equipment as in its normal duties. This includes acceptable improvised methods. A list of the recommended minimum equipment is available here. If specific items of equipment are not listed but needed for a scenario, the contest committee will supply each team with these items.
Rule 4 – Team Name
Teams may not enter the competition under the same or similar names. Registration order will determine what team will keep the name and what team will need to change. Substitute names may be assigned to those entered with the same or similar names to eliminate scoring issues. Names may also be changed for other reasons.
Rule 5 – Gloves
Gloves will be physically worn during each scenario. Responders may verbalize changing gloves when they deem it appropriate or when gloves have been damaged.
Rule 6 – Competition outline
Each team will be judged on a minimum of two (2) separate scenarios. Scenarios will be designed to cover a variety of different situations, which responders might encounter in their day-to-day activities as a pre-hospital care provider. All teams will take a knowledge examination with exams being scored by the Competition Chairperson or his/her appointee. Questions will be taken from Brady Publishing’s most current EMR textbook.
Rule 7 – Simulation
Any, all, or none of the scenarios may be simulated at the discretion of the contest officials depending on the availability of simulation equipment. If simulated, the scenario may be introduced without any advanced instructions and will be identified for each team. Most assessments and treatments should be physically performed. Responders should demonstrate as much as they can; for example, ask questions to get patient history, use a penlight (or other method) to evaluate the patient's pupils, and physically measure to size a cervical collar.
Rule 8 – Verbalization
Verbalization will be acceptable for invasive procedures such as placement of an oral airway. Responders will be expected to verbalize oxygen settings when placing patients on supplemental oxygen. The nasal cannula or non-rebreather mask will be physically placed on the patient but should be placed around the patient’s neck rather than over their face. In the case of equipment failure or sizing issues, verbalization will be accepted at the judge’s and chief judges’ discretion.
Rule 9 – Vitals
Vitals are to be taken. Responders should physically feel for a pulse and count for 15 seconds. Responders can verbalize that they are getting the respirations at the same time. For blood pressure, they should place the blood pressure cuff and start to pump it up. They should also have their stethoscope in their ears if taking blood pressure by auscultation. The responder should use a penlight or other method (have the patient close their eyes or cover their eyes) to check for pupil responses to light. Checking skin requires the responder to touch to patient. Checking oxygen saturation requires the physical placement of a pulse oximeter or proxy.
Rule 10 – Immobilization
Sandbags are allowed to replace manual stabilization of suspected fractures or the cervical spine. Additionally, placement of a cervical collar will count for stabilizing the spine, allowing the team to let go of the head.
Rule 11 – Restricted items
No cell phones, tablets, textbooks, pocket guides or cards, forms, or other materials that provide triage or treatment priorities and/or treatment sequences will be allowed in the competition space. Referring to a smart watch for any reason other than looking at a stop watch or time is forbidden. Unless medically necessary, responders will not use earbuds or headphones of any kind. Use of such items during the contest is grounds for disqualification.
Rule 12 – Start of competition
The contest will start at the time designated and ALL teams shall be in their allocated positions, with their equipment, at least five (5) minutes prior to the start of the contest. No equipment or Emergency Care Kits are to be opened prior to the start of the contest. All equipment must be put away after the completion of each scenario and before the start of the next scenario. Teams must stay in their assigned locations and move with contest officials from location to location.
Rule 13 – Scenario timing
A maximum time limit will be set for each scenario. Time is started when all teams are given their scenario to read. Scenarios will have a specified immediate action phase where teams can discuss, plan, and inform judges of what they will do before approaching the patients. They should also conduct their primary assessment and initial immediate treatments during that time. After the immediate action phase is complete, responders can no longer obtain points from that section of the scenario. Failure to complete the entire scenario will result in points lost. Most scenarios will include 2-minute warnings where teams can give handoff reports to incoming EMS. Teams can continue to work on their patient during this 2-minute wrap-up.
Rule 14 – Judge qualifications
All Judges should be at the certification/registration level of the Contest they are judging. The Contest Committee reserves the right to review the certifications/registrations of all judges.
Rule 15 – Judging
All judges shall meet with the contest Chairman and Chief Judges prior to the start of the contest. All judges are to remain with the contest officials until the start of the competition. The contest officials will distribute the contest scenarios, corresponding score sheets, and scoring procedures to the judges during this meeting.
Rule 16 – Victims
Victims will be provided by the host committee. They shall meet with the contest officials and judges prior to the starting time for the contest. Victims may have moulage, stickers, or other indications of the locations of injuries. Ten (10) minutes prior to starting time, judges and victims will report to their first assigned position. Extra victims should be arranged for as standby. An attempt will be made to select similar-sized victims to represent victims in the various sets of scenarios so that no team has an advantage.
Rule 17 – Scoring sheets
Following each scenario, Judges will review their scoring sheet for completeness and turn in all sheets to the Contest Officials before taking their next position. All score sheets will be forwarded to scoring for tabulation. Completed score sheets or copies will be provided to competitors, usually at the end of the competition event.
Rule 18 – Disputes
In case of any dispute regarding patient care, the chief judge(s) for that scenario will render the decision. On appeal, the medical director and/or Contest Chairperson will be the FINAL authority.
Rule 19 – Spectators
Spectators shall be kept clear of working areas unless specifically designated by the contest Chairperson. There will be no flash photo without permission.
Rule 20 – Scenario materials
All written materials used in a scenario must be disposed of or left at the scenario. Scenario descriptions, notes, and body sheets cannot be transported between scenarios.