COLUMBIA — Columbia State Community College emergency medical services students earned multiple awards at the fourth annual Battle of the Smokies competition, held March 4 in Sevierville. Over 25 teams from community colleges, county EMS agencies, and mine rescue crews across Tennessee competed in the event, according to Columbia State.
In the Student Advanced Life Support division, Columbia State's team won first place, with another team from the college taking fourth. In the Student Basic Life Support division, Columbia State swept the podium, winning both first and second place. These results reflect months of training, clinical practice, and the kind of preparation that separates competent emergency responders from excellent ones.
The competition scenario tested students in conditions that echo real emergencies: a utility vehicle had struck a telephone pole, creating multiple patients with injuries of varying severity. Smoke and other hazards on the simulated scene added pressure and complexity. Teams were scored on three critical measures—how quickly they assessed patients, the quality of their medical interventions, and the speed with which they readied patients for transport. In emergency medicine, all three matter. Speed without quality is reckless. Quality without speed is inadequate. The integration of both is what saves lives.
According to Gregory S. Johnson, Columbia State's EMS program director and assistant professor, "These AEMT and paramedic students performed at an incredible level of skill and showcased their ability to think critically in a very complex situation." The students who competed represent the next generation of paramedics and advanced EMTs who will respond to emergencies across Maury County and surrounding regions. Their training at Columbia State—rigorous, hands-on, clinically grounded—prepares them for the real work they will do.
The students also earned eight hours of continuing education credits through their participation in the competition and conference, credit that counts toward the ongoing professional development required of all licensed EMS providers. This arrangement—where competition becomes both a measure of excellence and a source of professional growth—demonstrates how Columbia State integrates learning with real-world advancement.
Source: Columbia State Community College