EMS Avenger Podcast

Wind him up and let him go! The LEGEND! I loved talking to Bob in this episode. More than I loved talking to him, I loved LISTENING to him. Bob is a man who knows himself, knows his stories, knows his job and doesn't need help in talking about either. Bob is also a man who found his way after a bad outcome attributed to lack of understanding, and has pursued excellence in practice and teaching ever since. He is also someone who is still committed to learning and who will pivot to new information when it is presented. Bob has come to be my conference circuit buddy, something I could never have imagined decades ago when I was trying to work. My way through MultiLead Medic and Slap the Cap. I hope you enjoy listening to Bob as much as I did!Manual Ventilation Academy: https://manualventilationacademy.org/

What do a bunch of nerdy EMS podcasters at an EMS conference do once the day of lecturing is over? Relax in a hot tub? Watch The West Wing reruns on Netflix? Go out to dinner? Take naps? NOPE! We re-convene and nerd out for one big crossover episode. And we nerd out on...AIRWAY! Because Jeff Jarvis. This crossover episode was a blast to record!

A patient becoming alert during a resuscitation is a best-case scenario, right? Mission accomplished! Not so fast, we're not talking about ROSC, we're talking about a patient who becomes alert during CPR because we're perfusing the brain THAT well. But they don't have a pulse. When compressions stop, the patient "stops". This is traumatic for the patient, but it's also traumatic for the provider. Dr. Alex Jabr and I break down CPR induced consciousness for talk about ways to mitigate the impact it has on everyone involved. References: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ptq8EeBp19E5rs_iWuEm-Io1gank2heV/view?usp=drivesdk Emergency Resilience: https://www.emergencyresilience.com/

Elizabeth has it all! A great career! Influence in that career. She's a wife and mother. She has a home. She has recognition and brought the house down at EMS World. But at one point in her life she lost it all. Liz suffered from opioid use disorder, and her story from addiction to freedom is an inspiring account of how being offered kindness and compassion at your lowest point can be a seed that's planted that eventually sprouts and fuels recovery!Link to Liz's Paramedic Scholarship Organization: https://www.paramedicpathways.org/

Podcast GOAT Ginger Locke of Medic Mindset joins me to discuss introversion in EMS. What is an introvert? Do introverts even like people? Are introverts barely surviving in an extrovert's EMS playhouse or are we actually the thrivers? Come recharge your batteries with Ginger and I as we settle into some quiet introspection and explore the minds of both introverts AND extroverts that make up the field of EMS. That's right extroverts, we saved a spot for you!

In the second episode of season 2, I discuss the successes, failures, lessons, and challenges of being an educator on social media with the always amazing Nurse Gwenny. We talk about the rewards of the job, navigating community engagement, disparities in the way men and women are treated in the creator space, what to do when you get it wrong, and what it feels like to get it right.

There is an overwhelming sense amongst EMS providers that they are trapped in EMS. They got in not quite knowing what the reality VS the promise of EMS was. That feeling was only intensified during the pandemic. Now they feel like there is no way out. It can almost feel like a prison sentence without a released date. Former inmate and now advocate Jesse Crosson relates to this as he served a considerable amount of time in prison (More so than sentence guidelines recommended) and found that while he couldn't change his surroundings, he COULD change his mind and his attitude. Hopefully this can inspire others to build resilience and internal change in order to rise above unfavorable circumstances.

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Ben Abo, a well known physician and researcher (Who maintains his Paramedic license) about a recent paper that he co-authored that found absolutely no evidence to support the practice of spinal immobilization, including the use of rigid cervical collars. This paper was a comprehensive review and meta-analysis, which is the highest form of evidence on the hierarchy of evidence. We dive into the data, the dogma, and how patients' quality of life and well-being are being ritually sacrificed to the use of these devices.

Dan Mouring, an EMS podcaster from Paramedic AF, dives deep into the failings of the current EMS system and the cultural shift needed within the field. He emphasizes the importance of professionalism, the detrimental effects of toxic humor, and the critical need for compassionate leadership. Together with guests Ashlynn O'Dell and Redbeard the Medic, they discuss the challenges of navigating mentorship and the role of emotional intelligence in preventing burnout. Insightful personal stories add richness to their call for transformation in EMS.

Dr. Peter Antevy, the medical director for Palm Beach County Fire and Rescue and innovator behind the Antevy system, shares groundbreaking insights on cardiac arrest management. He discusses the importance of high-performance CPR and innovative strategies like dual sequential defibrillation. Critically analyzing the use of epinephrine, he suggests alternatives to improve protocols. The episode also highlights the impressive survival rates in Palm Beach County's practices, making a strong case for modernizing emergency response techniques.