Thirty-Third Annual
West Virginia EMS & Firefighter Competition

     When: August 8-9-10, 2008
     Where: Cedar Lakes: Ripley, WV
     Hosted By: Ripley Volunteer Fire Department

We hope that everyone comes out and joins in the fun!!

The West Virginia Emergency Medical Services Competition had it's beginning in 1975 when Charleston Area Medical Center and the State Health Department Emergency Health Services Division invited West Virginia's ambulance squads to the capital city for an opportunity to compare their skills.

That initial year saw the following ambulances services represented: Charleston Emergency Ambulance Service, Cabell County S.T.O.P., East Bank, Marmet Fire Department, Putnam County, Rand Fire Department, and St. Joseph's Hospital of Parkersburg.

By 1979, the competition was conducted by a small but dedicated group of EMS people who saw it's value and wanted it to grow. Over the years committee members have come and gone, but the spirit of the Competition lives on.

Each year has seen more interesting events, increasing sophisticated situations and improved operations and each annual competition seems to surpass the previous years for learning and enjoyment for all that attend.

Personnel attending, benefit in several different ways during competition. The best performances are rewarded recognition and trophies to forever display. Knowledge is gained from event critiques and by observing others compete. In addition, continuing education credit is awarded for attendance.

The informal learning atmosphere allows camaraderie, sharing of ideas and concepts, and often times finds solutions to problems that others have encountered.

Systems people anywhere would be hard pressed to equal the cost benefit ratio of dollars spent verses knowledge available at the competition. You must remain mindful of what one rope rescue evolution, one physician critique, one vehicular class, or one of any of the possible exposures available would cost to the individual squad.