It looks like a major emergency but it’s a scene set up to simulate a school shooting. It’s just one example of scenarios created for Utica’s first ever international EMS competition.

Two teams from Poland are competing with a team from Dryden and Utica’s EMS crews. The teams are scored on a points basis on each aspect of their response to the emergency.

Each scenario comes with actors and makeup designed to make it look as real as possible. And it’s not just about the competition. Paramedics say it is a valuable training tool.

“Most training we have is simulation, and it’s obvious it’s simulated. When you bring in the actual stresses of people yelling and family members and the situation makes it look real, it brings the training to a new level,” said Philip Taurisano, a Utica firefighter and paramedic.

The winning team will get an all expenses paid trip to compete at the annual competition in Poland.

Tags: EMS competition in Utica