Loyalist College Paramedic students placed first at the 6th Annual Skills Competition sponsored by the Durham Paramedic Association in Oshawa on April 5th. Rick Wright and Chelsea Robertson were the members of the gold medal team. Pam Foster and Frank Puliso also represented Loyalist and placed sixth. There were 29 teams entered in the competition, 12 of which were from colleges. The competition consisted of skill stations, scenarios and written testing. Contestants’ knowledge was challenged in areas ranging from control of mass casualty incidents to cardiac arrest.

“The win was amazing,” said Chelsea Robertson. “We spent months preparing with our instructors and fellow classmates, meeting once or twice a week to practise at our homes, or driving to Oshawa to work with our instructors. We ran everything from full neonatal delivery scenarios, to MCI's (multiple casualty) scenarios, growing stronger and more consistent each time. The support we received from our classmates and professors was overwhelming. We had the best cheering section there. I felt honoured to be a part of something that encourages us to go above and beyond, strive to help, comfort, and care for others, and it always feels great to know that you worked so hard and won!”

“It is a very challenging competition and both teams did a great job and made us all very proud,” said Maureen Piercy, College President. “The Durham Paramedic Association initiated this competition six years ago and since it began Loyalist has been awarded three gold medals. This is definitely a testimony to the quality of our program. Our professors are experienced and skilled in the paramedic field and their abilities as exceptional instructors is evident in the calibre of the students that successfully complete this rigorous program.”

“We have placed within the top two teams for six consecutive years, competing against working paramedic professionals as well as students from other programs,” commented Tom Malloy, Dean of Skills Training, Access and Continuing Education. “Many students are drawn to Loyalist’s Paramedic program for the convenience of being able to complete their courses on a part-time basis while continuing to work in their regular jobs. Once enrolled in the program, they discover that convenience is only one of its many great aspects. The professors are skilled and experienced and, perhaps more importantly, they have proven repeatedly that they are exceptional at imparting their knowledge to the students.”

The Loyalist College Paramedic program is offered at the Bancroft Campus on a part-time basis. For more information regarding this and other Bancroft Campus programs call (613) 332-1743 or click here.

Media Contact:  Marilyn Warren, Communications, Loyalist College (613) 969-1913, ext. 2332; e-mail:  mwarren@loyalistc.on.ca  or Tom Malloy, Dean of Skills Training, Access and Continuing Education, (613) 332-1743, ext. 2223