SHREVEPORT, La. — Emergency medical professionals from across Louisiana faced realistic, high-pressure scenarios Thursday during the SIM Wars competition at the 2026 Louisiana State EMS Conference and Expo in downtown Shreveport.
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The competition, held at the Shreveport Convention Center, brought together 10 teams of trained EMS personnel for a series of simulations designed to test their medical knowledge, teamwork and decision-making abilities.
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Using props such as smoke machines, fake blood and fire hoses, organizers created immersive emergency scenes that challenged participants to respond as they would in real-life situations. Competitors also encountered unusual situations, including a simulated childbirth emergency at a water park.
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David Janese of the Shreveport Fire Department, who organized the event, said SIM Wars gives EMS workers an opportunity to sharpen their skills while enjoying friendly competition.
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"It's great. I'm happy they're having a good time," Janese said. "Competition shouldn't be about ruthless, 'I'm going to win.' It should be about having a good time and expressing what they do every day, which is their passion."
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The competition featured two separate simulations. One tested participants' medical knowledge, while the other focused on trauma response. Teams were evaluated using an industry-standard scoring rubric.
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Participants said the scenarios were both challenging and realistic.
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"It was intense," said Scott Nation, a paramedic from East Baton Rouge Parish. "It was about as intense as I expected it to be — and some."
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Jax Nation, an EMT who competed in the event, said environmental obstacles added an extra layer of difficulty.
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"It required us to work together a lot more because we had all those environmental factors," Nation said. "Being with the hose and trying to communicate got us really thinking about what we needed to prioritize."
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Participants said the competition forced them to adapt quickly while managing multiple patients and unexpected circumstances.
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According to Janese, the event highlights the importance of continual training and professional development for EMS providers across Louisiana.
Winners of the SIM Wars competition were scheduled to be announced Friday.
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