UWB Team Wins the 14th Pilsen Rescue Cup in Srní.

Aneurysm, yew poisoning, or stroke were among the challenging emergency scenarios faced by paramedic students from across the Czechia during the 14th Pilsen Rescue Cup. Testing their skills in demanding conditions, the team from the Faculty of Health Care Studies emerged as the overall winner.

Realistic emergency response simulations, emergency dispatch center operations, patient triage, and the management of aggressive patients were just some of the challenges awaiting participants in the 14th Pilsen Rescue Cup, held in Srní in the Šumava Mountains. This year’s competition put paramedic students from across the Czech Republic to the test.

From 15 to 17 May, nine university teams took part in the event, demonstrating not only their clinical skills but also their ability to respond to unexpected situations. The most successful team came from the Faculty of Health Care Studies of the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen. The trio of Matěj Šach, Matěj Šilhánek, and Vojtěch Davídek claimed first place. The University of Pardubice finished second, while the team from the Czech Technical University in Kladno placed third. Another team from the University of West Bohemia secured fourth place.

“This year’s competition was particularly demanding due to its focus on internal medicine emergencies, which require not only professional knowledge but also rapid clinical decision-making, effective communication, and strong teamwork. We were very pleased with the high level of preparedness demonstrated by all participating teams. The students had the opportunity to experience situations they are likely to encounter frequently in their future careers,” said Stanislava Reichertová, Head of the Department of Paramedic Science, Medical Diagnostics Studies, and Public Health at the Faculty of Health Care Studies. According to her, the program also tested participants’ resilience in simulated crises.

The competition began with nighttime challenges on the very first day. Organizers prepared two complex scenarios. The first assessed the students’ ability to manage emergency dispatch operations under contingency conditions, including handling emergency calls, correctly classifying incidents, locating callers, and conducting radio communication. The second scenario took place in an emergency department, where teams simultaneously cared for two patients, monitored vital signs, collected samples, managed an aggressive patient, and determined appropriate treatment strategies.

The following day featured nine stations focusing on internal medicine emergencies. Participants dealt with cases including a patient experiencing burning chest pain lasting approximately two hours, anaphylactic shock, an aneurysm, opioid poisoning in an oncology patient, hypothermia, severe hyperglycemia, yew poisoning, and stroke. They also tested their ability to interpret ECG recordings. The program ran from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., giving students a realistic eight-hour shift experience as paramedics. Throughout the competition, a professional special-effects makeup artist ensured that all simulated scenarios were as realistic as possible.

The event also included expert workshops and presentations. Students attended sessions delivered by the Center for Palliative Care and the Chamber of Paramedics, and participated in practical training focused on patient-monitoring equipment. The Pilsen Rescue Cup is traditionally co-organized by the Pilsen Region, the Pilsen Region Emergency Medical Service, and the Šumava National Park Administration. Chirlovosice and the Pilsen Paramedics Club provided additional support.