Forest Hills Volunteer EMTs Win 4 Trophies In State Competition

FOREST HILLS, QUEENS — The Forest Hills Volunteer Ambulance Corps and its youth corps took home four trophies in a state competition testing volunteer EMTs' emergency medicine chops.

The Forest Hills-based EMTs raced against other volunteer first responders to solve real-life emergency scenarios, earning one first-place trophy, a second-place trophy and two third-place finishes.

The drills were a part of Pulse Check 2019, the non-profit New York State Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Association's annual conference and trade show, which took place in Suffern from Sept. 12 to Sept. 15.

Competitors score points for correctly solving the problem and get penalized for rough handling and contamination, according to the official drill rules. The drills are divided into two categories: medical and trauma.

"Going to competitions, you're basically on your toes," said Bogdan Tiflinsky, 35, who was on the corps' three-person team for the trauma competition drill. "You don't know what scenario you're going to get. It keeps you alert."

Congratulations to the FHVAC Youth Corps for bringing home 2 trophies from this years Pulse Check Drill Competition. We are all very proud of you guys. The adult teams also won 2 trophies. 4 teams, 4 trophies.....what a way to show off! pic.twitter.com/FxDQxIYW8M
— FHVAC EMS (@FHVAC) September 16, 2019

In their drill scenario, Tiflinsky and his teammates were faced with a patient who was vomiting but conscious, he recalled. Their task was to find out why the patient was ill and how to save them.

"You have to use your skills as an EMT," he said.

Asking a few questions revealed the patient was suffering an allergic reaction to nuts, so Tiflinsky's team gave the patient oxygen and an EpiPen injection.

Pulse Check offers the Forest Hills Volunteer Ambulance Corps more than just opportunities for trophies, Tiflinsky said.

The weekend-long event includes a series of classes so volunteers can get re-certified as EMTs and beef up their skills. The EMTs also network with other volunteer first responders and get ideas for how they can improve their own organizations.

And as soon as Pulse Check is over, Tiflinsky said, the Forest Hills Volunteer Ambulance Corps starts getting ready for the next one.