Surry County EMS Wins 2026 NC Paramedic Competition in Winston-Salem

Surry County EMS Triumphs at NC Paramedic Competition

In an impressive display of skill and collaboration, the Surry County Emergency Services team of Josh Booker and Josh LeCrone emerged victorious at the 34th annual North Carolina Paramedic Competition. This marked their first state title win as a team at the event held on Sunday, May 3, in Winston-Salem.

NCDHHS OEMS Chief Tom Mitchell (center) presents Surry County EMS’ Josh Booker (left) and Josh LeCrone (right) with the championship plaque.

The competition was a highlight of the NC Emergency Medical Services Expo, an annual event that gathers paramedics, EMTs, and emergency services directors to enhance their skills through expert-led presentations. The top six teams, including the Surry County duo, competed in this year’s event, with the winners announced at the Expo’s closing banquet on Tuesday night.

“We are incredibly proud of the work these EMS teams demonstrate in competition and day in and day out by providing life-saving care to their communities,” stated Tom Mitchell, Chief of the NCDHHS Office of Emergency Medical Services. “These paramedics are North Carolina’s best of the best in emergency medical response. We offer our special congratulations to this year’s winners.”

This year, Surry County EMS outshone the previous 2025 champions, Cape Fear Cumberland EMS, along with other top regional teams from Alamance County EMS, Atrium WFUBMC AirCare, Cabarrus County EMS, and Randolph County Emergency Services, all of whom qualified in March competitions.

The competition involved a realistic mock emergency scenario, tasking teams with managing three critical patients at a skydiving incident. Teams were sequestered before tackling the scenario, which included a parachutist needing immediate intervention, a team member bitten by a venomous snake, and a child suffering a severe allergic reaction. All scenarios demanded swift, coordinated care.

Each team had a mere 12 minutes to assess and address each crisis in the mock emergency, judged on criteria such as communication, patient rapport, and organizational skills. This annual event not only challenges participants but also serves as an educational opportunity for observing paramedics and EMTs.

The Office of Emergency Medical Services under the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services aims to strengthen emergency medical systems and personnel to better respond to emergencies and disasters.