<p>COLUMBIA — Emergency medical services students from Columbia State Community College dominated the fourth annual Battle of the Smokies competition in Sevierville, winning first place in both the Student Advanced Life Support and Student Basic Life Support divisions. More than 25 teams from community colleges, county EMS agencies, and mine rescue crews across Tennessee competed in the March 4 event, according to a report from Columbia State.</p><p>In the Advanced Life Support division, Columbia State took first and fourth place. In the Basic Life Support division, the school's teams finished first and second. The competition scenario involved a side-by-side utility vehicle collision with a telephone pole, complete with smoke and simulated hazards designed to test both clinical skill and situational awareness under pressure. Gregory S. Johnson, Columbia State's EMS program director, said he was "incredibly proud" of the students' dedication to clinical excellence and their ability to think critically in a complex situation. Students also earned eight hours of continuing education credit through the event.</p>