Many schools and tournaments rely on parents, teachers, or volunteers for medical coverage—but divided roles, unreliable availability, and lack of medical oversight put athletes at risk. This post breaks down why events need a dedicated medic team, the compliance advantages Smith EMS provides through physician-led medical direction, and how professional coverage protects your program from last-minute cancellations and liability.

Last week, Smith EMS provided onsite coverage for the Adult National Figure Skating Championships, hosted by the Twin Cities Figure Skating Association at the St. Louis Park Rec Center. In this blog, we break down the unique medical needs of figure skating events and what event coordinators should look for when choosing medical support. If you’re planning a competition with athletes of any age or level—this one’s worth the read.

“At 16, I didn’t just want to work events — I wanted to raise the standard.” Before launching Smith EMS, I was calling medics into the rink as a 12-year-old scorekeeper. By 14, I was certified. And by 17, I was running a team of medics across the Midwest — all while finishing high school. This post shares the full story: how I went from working behind the scenes at youth hockey games to building one of the region’s fastest-growing event medical companies.