BY MARY JANE FARMER

HERALD DEMOCRAT

VAN ALSTYNE -- At the 2009 Texas EMS Conference in Fort Worth two weeks ago, four EMS members took first place in the Valsalva Bowl competition and third place in the national contest.Ryan Dockery, Jeremy Powell, and Brendon Snapp, are currently licensed as emergency medical technicians and attending paramedic classes. The fourth is Van Alstyne paramedic and Lt. Landon Smith.

It was with obvious pride that Van Alstyne Fire Chief Frank Baker presented the three EMT's to the city council at Tuesday night's regular council meeting. Smith is taking a well-deserved vacation, and so wasn't available, Baker said.

The Valsalva Bowl is a fast-paced competition patterned after the popular television show, "Jeopardy." Competing against Van Alstyne EMS were 16 teams made up of people in the emergency medical field with education ranging from that of EMT to instructors, to paramedics, and even to emergency medical doctors. They compete against each other and the clock, and like Jeopardy, earn and lose points according to the responses.

Dockery explained that one person from each team stepped to the contestant table, alternating with one another so that all participated.

"It made you think on your feet, hopefully coming up with the right answer," Dockery said.

Thinking on one's feet is a quality that all EMS personnel are responsible to develop. To that extent, this contest honed that skill.

It put more pressure on Van Alstyne EMS team, especially since three of them are EMT's and knowing that all other teams were made up of people with more education.

"We had to be a lot quicker and able to reference the information we have quickly," Powell said.

"We got up there and answered with what we have learned and have been taught," said Snapp.

The second day's contest, the national, was held inside the crowded Fort Worth Convention Center. Dockery explained that this type of event is good training. "When we are on duty and called to a scene, we have to focus on our patient. That's our priority. We might have family members asking questions, and we give them a quick answer, and go back to focusing on the patient."

Baker said, "I feel like we have a good amount of incidents that happen here in our community that expose and give our (EMS) team opportunities to make decisions. These guys are exceptionally sharp, whether thinking through a complex situation or whether performing physically."

Baker also said there's a pressure he doesn't want added onto these winners' jobs and that is, "I don't want these men to have to carry anybody else. They are, rather, partners who help do their job, without having to stumble and trip."

Van Alstyne EMS is only a portion of emergency services offered through Van Alstyne Fire Department. The entire staff is a combination of full-time and part-time paid employees and of volunteers.

"We are at the point that people are seeking employment with Van Alstyne Fire Department," Baker said. "I expect these guys to be the standard that everybody in the area, region, and state expect to achieve. I expect them all to shine."

These four Van Alstyne EMS members will be going to the 2010 competitions, being held outside Texas. There will also be three alternates who will make the trip, who may or may not compete, but can also learn from just watching, Baker said.

Rockery, Powell, and Snapp are scheduled to complete their paramedic training and then test for state certification in early summer.