The province of Girona hosts the biggest conference in its history
The Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine (SEMES) held its 31st conference in the province of Girona. It was attended by some 3,400 emergency professionals, including over 450 speakers from all over Spain and EM specialists of international standing.
When choosing the location for their annual congress, the organisation was influenced by the variety and convenience of the range of venues available to cater for an ambitious and extremely varied programme, as well as the province’s genuine attraction in terms of leisure options for delegates in their free time.
Aquí es valora molt les persones. Girona té una atracció especial. Val la pena fer-lo aquí.
Dr. Pere Manuel Rimbau (comitè organitzador)
El Palau de Congressos és excel·lent, té unes sales multifunció magnífiques i un auditori impressionant. I hem tingut el complement de Fira de Girona, just a tocar: un espai que ens ha permès posar els nostres estands i realitzar totes les activitats de manera simultània.
Dr. Manuel J. Vázquez Lima (vicepresident de la SEMES)
Most of the programme was held at the Girona Conference Centre and the Trade Fair Centre, although some practical activities took place in other parts of the province. Delegates stayed at 19 hotels in the city of Girona, Lloret de Mar and Riudellots de la Selva.
The congress video presentation, under the heading “The Strength of the Team”. It combines images of the province with activities in which team spirit is an important value.
The challenge of an intensive scientific and training programme.
The congress was open to doctors, nurses and technical staff of emergency services who participated in the more than 200 activities included in the programme. In the course of the congress there were 88 round tables, 78 practical workshops, 14 courses and a commercial exhibition, along with several emergency training actions aimed at members of the public in Lloret de Mar and Girona.
The lectures, workshops and courses were organised in the various rooms at the Girona Conference Centre and the Trade Fair Centre. Some of the training activities of a practical nature were held on the grounds of the Conference Centre. The commercial exhibition and the poster area were allotted to the Trade Fair Centre.
The different parts of the Girona complex were used to full capacity to carry out the over 200 activities of the intensive programme, which at times involved over 20 simultaneous activities. In addition to its intensity, the programme stood out for the diversity of the activities included.
The lectures, oral communications, courses aimed at different professional groups and the exhibition areas habitual at this type of event were combined with more informal formats to foster teamwork.
Along these lines, activities like a contest inspired by The Hunger Games, an emergency ward ultrasound scan tournament based on Money Heist and a cardiopulmonary resuscitation competition complemented specific training sessions through workshops on such themes as behaviour management, communication and teamwork.
The congress finished up with a gala dinner in the Devesa Park in Girona. Divertimento provided the fittings and audiovisual management for the event and Leeksonfilms made the video reportage. Both companies are members of the CBGCB
A congress open to the public
One of SEMES’ aims is to promote first aid education among members of the public. At their 31st national congress, the organisation ran free first aid courses open to all in Girona and Lloret de Mar, besides information sessions for schools.
These public activities featured a large-scale emergency drill in response to a simulated gas cylinder explosion on the bank of the River Güell, outside the Conference Centre auditorium. Some 70 extras selected from nursing and medical students at the University of Girona played the part of accident victims and the drill involved over a hundred professionals from the Medical Emergency System (SEM), the Autonomous Catalan Government Fire Brigade, the Mossos d’Esquadra Catalan police force, the Red Cross and the Girona Civil Protection Group.
In turn, a practical first aid course was held in Lloret de Mar for some 80 school children.
Collaborators
The congress was organised in collaboration with Girona City Council, via the Girona City Convention Bureau, the Costa Brava Girona Tourist Board through the Costa Brava Girona Convention Bureau and the Lloret Convention Bureau.
Results
The SEMES congress demonstrated the province’s capacity to host leading congresses with a large number of participants. The province’s infrastructures and services enabled the organisation to implement their programme to the total satisfaction of the participants, who rated their stay in the province of Girona very positively.