SUSSEX COUNTY PARAMEDICS CAPTURE SILVER MEDAL AT 2010 JEMS GAMES

[Baltimore, MD] – A team of Sussex County paramedics taking part in a national EMS competition will bring home silver honors this weekend, the second consecutive award for the team and the fourth overall in the past five years.

The Sussex County EMS team on Friday night, March 5, earned a silver medal for the
members’ performance in the 2010 Journal of Emergency Medical Service (JEMS) Games in
Baltimore. The competition among elite groups of first-responders from across the United States was held March 4-6 during the EMS Today Conference 2010, an annual educational gathering and exposition for pre-hospital care providers.

Sussex County’s team included paramedics Michael Carunchio, Jeff Cox, Stuart Hensley,
and Jill Wix. This year’s competition included 16 different teams from EMS agencies across the United States.

It is the team’s third silver medal in as many years, and fourth overall since 2005.
“The team’s achievement reflects our system’s continual commitment to deliver excellent patient care,” said Sussex County EMS Acting Director Robert Stuart. “We are extremely proud of our team’s consistent, outstanding performance at these games as they exemplify the high quality of service we provide to the residents and visitors of Sussex County, Del., each and every day.”

Sussex County was in first place following the preliminary round earlier in the week,
heading into Friday’s finals with only two other teams. The final phase of the competition included a simulated mass casualty incident involving a bus. Paramedics were judged on their ability to effectively perform simulated patient care, which included triage (prioritizing injuries), treatment, and transportation of patients.
In the end, Sussex County EMS was edged out by gold medal winner Cape Fear (N.C.)
EMS. A team from Reno, Nev., took third-place honors.

This year’s silver medal win adds to Sussex County’s previous success. Past Sussex
County EMS competition teams in the JEMS Games have earned a gold medal in 2005 and silver medals in 2006 and 2009. Sussex County EMS also placed third during the Magen David Adom (MDA) 2008 Olympics, an international EMS competition held in the Dead Sea region of Israel.

Jill Wix, the Sussex County EMS competition team captain, said she and her fellow team mates were honored to have the chance to compete once again, and bring home high honors for Sussex County EMS and the citizens of the county.

“We are thankful for the support of our County Council, co-workers, family, and
friends.” Paramedic Wix said.

Sussex County Administrator David B. Baker congratulated the team on its success and this outstanding achievement and attributed the success of the team to their hard work and skills that they demonstrate in the field each day.