CPAP and BiPAP often get lumped together in EMS—but they solve different problems. In Part 1 of this two-part series, we break down why these tools are siblings, not twins, and how choosing the right one starts with understanding what is actually failing in your patient.

This episode focuses on the physiology and fundamentals behind non-invasive ventilation. We strip it down to the basics: breathing has two jobs—getting oxygen in and getting carbon dioxide out—and CPAP and BiPAP help with those jobs in very different ways.

By the end of Part 1, even a brand-new EMT will be able to explain why they chose CPAP or BiPAP—not just what they did.

As always, if you have a story to tell—funny, wild, heartbreaking, or unforgettable—you can share it through our website. We’d love to feature it on a future episode.

Radio Reports – Listener Tales: ⁠https://lifeandsirens.com/listenertales/⁠

What if we told you there’s a number on your monitor that can predict ROSC, expose hidden shock, and even hint at metabolic acidosis before labs ever come back? In this high-energy deep dive, we break down ETCO₂ as the ultimate triad vital sign—reflecting ventilation, perfusion, and metabolism all at once—and show why it should guide your decision-making on nearly every call.

Through real EMS scenarios, waveform breakdowns, case logic, and critical care pearls, we teach you how to read ETCO₂ like a story instead of just a number. You’ll walk away confident knowing exactly what rising, dropping, or oddly shaped waveforms really mean for your patient.

As always, if you have a story to tell—funny, wild, heartbreaking, or unforgettable—you can share it through our website. We’d love to feature it on a future episode.

Radio Reports – Listener Tales: ⁠https://lifeandsirens.com/listenertales/⁠

Every EMS provider has their rituals — the interventions we do out of habit, comfort, or culture, not because the patient actually needs them. In this episode, we dig into the traditions we inherit, the habits we cling to, and the clinical judgment we should be using instead.

From c-collars to “just in case” IVs to hanging O₂ like it’s emotional support therapy, we unpack where these rituals came from, why they persist, and when they quietly creep into patient care. Most importantly, we talk about how EMS can evolve past ritual-based practice and toward thoughtful, evidence-driven decision-making.

As always, if you have a story to tell—funny, wild, heartbreaking, or unforgettable—you can share it through our website. We’d love to feature it on a future episode.

Radio Reports – Listener Tales: ⁠https://lifeandsirens.com/listenertales/⁠