TO: Mayor and City Commission
FROM: Cale Curtis, City Manager
DATE: June 19, 2024
Title
MARGATE FIRE DEPARTMENT ALS COMPETITION - 1ST PLACE
BACKGROUND: Our Margate ALS team recently competed in the First There, First Care competition held at the Hard Rock Casino this past week. The First There, First Care - Chief Mike Haygood Broward Invitational is one of the most longstanding paramedic competitions in the State of Florida. Each year, paramedic teams representing their agencies are put to the test with a series of complex medical and trauma scenarios.
Our Margate Fire Department went head-to-head with thirty teams from around the state. The first day of the competition included 15 patients across three scenarios, which ranged from a shark bite at the beach to a pediatric drowning, a pregnant patient with diabetic ketoacidosis, and a baby delivery, just to name a few.
The second day was the finals, which featured 11 patients in a haunted house event. These scenarios included patients with fence impalements, choking pediatric patients, seizures, overdoses, and a heart attack (STEMI) patient. Our Margate ALS team performed phenomenally, beating out the second-place team by 47 points on day 1 and by 21 points on day 2.
Our Margate Fire Department continues to lead the pack in these competitions, continuously sharpening the skills of our department. Congratulations to Lt. Charlie Gandia, Lt. Yoany Batista, FF Sierra Leon Jarjoura, FF Joe Padilla, and the rest of the ALS team members who continue to make our department shine.
RECOMMENDATION: N/A
FISCAL IMPACT: N/A
CONTACT PERSON: Gia Shaw, Public Safety Communications Manager