- December 14, 2025
Flagler County Fire Rescue teams traveled to Omaha, Nebraska Nov. 18 and 19, where they won, or placed, in four separate trials of the annual Creighton University Medical Competition.
Teams won first, third and fourth place in the Advanced Life Support competition, and second place in the Basic Life Support competition.
“The significance of this event is evident by the results,” Flagler County Fire Rescue Chief Don Petito said. “The motivation of Flagler County’s paramedics to take personal time to train and travel in order to compete is impressive and a valuable learning tool.”
Last year Flagler County placed second in the Creighton University Competition. This year Flagler brought four teams to the event, competing against 21 other teams from around the nation.
Team members paid their own way, and used personal vacation time, to compete.
In first place was Flagler’s international competition team of Dennis Kline, Mike Pius and Cody King. In third place was Flagler’s Team B, comprised of Jon Moscowitz, Jason Forte and Kyle Lockwood. In fourth place was Flagler’s Team C, with Bill Kerek, Armando Castaneda and James Cosgrove.
Flagler’s Basic Life Support Team, with Nathan Burhans, Justin Stone and Peter Johnston, took second place.
“These are the individuals that respond to homes in Flagler County when there is a medical emergency,” County Administrator Craig Coffey noted. “… (Our) paramedic corps is judged as one of the best in the nation.”
The scenario used in the competition was a bar fight with six people injured and one patient overdosed on bath salts. The teams had 11 minutes to assess and treat the patients at the scene.
“I have heard comments that the world champion team is the same three or four individuals,” Chief Petito said. “There were nine new players from Flagler County in the competition. The results prove that our training and standards have migrated throughout the ranks.”
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