International teams compete in the Emergency Medical Services Competition within "Abu Dhabi Ambulance Services"

ABU DHABI, 26 November / WAM / The activities of the “Abu Dhabi International Conference for Ambulance Services 2025”, which is the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa region and organized by the Abu Dhabi Civil Defense Authority, will witness the participation of international teams in the “Emergency Medical Services – EMS” competition, as part of the authority’s efforts to enhance training and exchange of experiences among emergency paramedics at the international level, with the final evaluation to be announced tomorrow on the closing day of the event.

Local and international teams compete in scenarios that simulate real emergencies, with the aim of raising preparedness and improving performance, using puppets, actors and pressure effects to create a realistic environment and evaluate the effective response under real conditions.

Simon Szymchakowski, co-founder of More Fox Consulting in Canada, said in a statement to the Emirates News Agency, WAM, that the company plays a pivotal role in supporting the Abu Dhabi Civil Defense Authority in judging the competition, in close cooperation with the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, noting that the primary goal is to develop the training and education of emergency paramedics at the global level.

He added that the company’s experience in operational excellence, governance, and complex project management in the health sector, including emergency and ambulance services, enables it to provide accurate assessments and comparisons based on best practices and international standards during the competition.

He explained that More Focus seeks, through its participation, to enhance the efficiency of emergency teams, raise the level of emergency medical response, and stimulate innovation in training paramedics for various emergency scenarios.

For his part, Sheldon Thunstrom, a faculty member at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Canada and a member of the competition’s jury, confirmed that the team evaluates competitors from all over the world according to precise and uniform criteria, noting that the judging relies on a detailed evaluation form that includes all aspects of medical and emergency performance to ensure fairness and the application of consistent methodologies when dealing with different cases and injuries.

He explained that the committee focuses on rapid response skills, critical case management, and effective coordination while dealing with complex emergency scenarios, and the teams are judged based on the effectiveness of the response, decision-making processes, and the quality of care provided to patients in simulated conditions that simulate field pressure.

Peter McDade, a paramedic in the Irish National Ambulance Service, said that he leads “community first responder” groups in different regions of Ireland, which provide life-saving care in the first minutes of emergency situations before the ambulance crew arrives, noting that his team is part of 12 teams participating in the Emergency Medical Services Competition, stressing that the aim of participation is to open future opportunities for official cooperation between ambulance services in Abu Dhabi and Ireland and to exchange experiences through similar competitions.

Abdullah Abamsalmov, a fire paramedic at the Zionsville Fire Department in the United States of America, explained that his team’s participation aims primarily to refine their expertise by learning about best international practices and exchanging valuable experiences, noting that the team will face advanced emergency medicine teams from several countries, including Ireland, Abu Dhabi, and Australia, which will allow them to apply international standards upon their return to the United States.

He pointed out that these competitions require an exceptional level of physical readiness and mental ability, in addition to high team cooperation skills, as the challenge may include any emergency medical scenario, which makes every moment a true test of experience and professionalism.

• For more: Follow Khaleejion 24 Arabic, Khaleejion 24 English, Khaleejion 24 Live, and for social media follow us on Facebook and Twitter