Training Day #6

It all started as a healthy competition between groups of responders in my class, class 2, and by the end of it, it was a competition between classes for who would reign supreme.

The group was picked and they needed another person so I joined them. We were competing to back-board a trauma patient and apply a number of different bandages as well. A couple of groups had been before us but when we had competed we had the top time of like 2:46 (or something close to that, you know how legends are made, the facts don't always stay solid). The next time our group was timed we clocked in at 2:06. By this point the stirrings of class competition were in the air. Their was espionage on each side and the excitement continued to build. Our group did another trial, this time without the bandaging practice, just straight back-boarding. Our time was 1:09. We felt confident but the other classes were still practicing. We did a final trial before the competition and got a slightly higher time of like 1:36.

The stage was set for class competition as all the classes made their way outside with their equipment. Final instructions were given and judges were assigned for each group. The countdown, shalosh, stein, achat and the first of four groups were off. Each group had to back-board their patient, get it checked by the judge and reorganize the equipment before the next group would be allowed to start. Our group was the anchor group because we had been posting the best times but by the time it was our turn, we had lost track of what number the other classes were on, so we didn't know if they were about to finish or if we were ahead of them. But it didn't matter, we knew our jobs and we set to work. When we had finished and stood up we knew our class was the winner! Go class 2!

There was not much time to celebrate as our group had to prepare for the head to head competition, the best groups from each class were to battle it out to see who was the fastest. This time the judges would be more strict and so we knew we had to be fast but also careful. Slow is fast! Slow is fast! After checking our equipment and organizing it just the way we wanted it the competition started. I was so focused on my tasks that I hardly knew what everyone else was doing. We worked together like a fine oiled machine. With a few things to correct along the way we finished and again we realize we had taken the second W for class 2 and that deserved a picture being taken.

But the fun wasn't done, the instructors wanted a chance to show their stuff so with all the students crowding around and the program coordinator acting the part of the patient, the instructors went to back-board with the critique of all the students as their judges. At the end the instructors were eight seconds behind our winning class group.

Location:Jerusalem