Ep 12: The Interview of a Lifetime – Secondary Assessments

This week, the crew dives into one of the most conversation-driven parts of EMT work — the secondary assessment. After handling life threats in the primary survey, now it’s all about communication, connection, and collecting details that actually tell a patient’s story.

Jonathan returns from night shift to rejoin Mike and Max as they break down OPQRST + SAMPLE, share their first field experiences doing secondary assessments, and reflect on the art of interviewing patients in real time. From reading subtle stroke signs to learning through small mistakes (like oxygen-hose mix-ups), this episode highlights how much of EMS happens through listening, observing, and talking.

Episode Breakdown

00:37 – Jonathan returns and the crew catches up on night shifts and ride-alongs

06:20 – Mike’s first stroke-call experience and spotting subtle red flags

10:00 – Learning from mistakes: the oxygen-hose incident

20:15 – Medical Term of the Week: OPQRST + SAMPLE mnemonics explained

36:30 – Focused vs. full secondary assessments – and knowing what’s “important now”

48:20 – Physical exams, DECAP-BTLS, and patient communication tips

1:03:10 – Tools of the Trade: Pulse Oximeter 🩸 (history, use, and limitations)

1:14:00 – Student Tip of the Week: Know your community, speak their language

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⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and storytelling purposes only. It is not medical advice or official EMT training. Always follow your accredited instructors and local protocols.

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🚑 RideAlong: EMT School Links

www.ridealong.bulletn.net

Ep 11: First Impressions Matter – Scene Size-Up & Primary Assessment

In EMS, your first impression can literally save a life. This week, the crew breaks down the scene size-up and primary assessment—the first steps every EMT takes when arriving at an emergency. From assessing safety and forming that “doorway impression” to managing life threats with the ABCs (airway, breathing, circulation), Mike and Max unpack what it means to stay calm, think fast, and see the big picture.

With Jonathan out on contract, the guys navigate class solo—sharing real ride-along stories, lessons from their first volunteer shifts, and what it’s like to start applying classroom knowledge in the field. They also introduce the AVPU scale (alert, verbal, pain, unresponsive) for gauging patient responsiveness, and cover PPE in this week’s Tools of the Trade.

Episode Breakdown

00:37 – Pop culture warm-up: SNL, The Pit, and EMS on screen

08:30 – Real-world ride-along stories and first volunteer calls

15:10 – Scene Size-Up: safety, awareness, and “from the door” impressions

18:15 – Medical Term of the Week: AVPU responsiveness scale

25:40 – Primary Assessment: airway, breathing, circulation, and life threats

33:10 – Scene safety, violent scenes, and when to call for help

38:40 – Tools of the Trade: PPE (gloves, glasses, and gowns)

1:14:20 – Student Tip of the Week: Always carry a pen & pad

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⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and storytelling purposes only. It is not medical advice or official EMT training. Always follow your accredited instructors and local protocols.

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🚑 RideAlong: EMT School Links

www.ridealong.bulletn.net

Ep 10: Proof of Life – Vital Signs & Sphygmomanometer Practice

Vital signs are the foundation of every patient assessment—and this week, the crew gets hands-on with the “proof of life.” Mike and Max break down the five core vitals (pulse, respirations, skin, pupils, and blood pressure), plus the “bonus” indicators like oxygen saturation and blood glucose.

With Jonathan out this week, the guys tackle class solo—sharing lessons from the field, stories of testing on family members, and why getting an accurate manual blood pressure is harder than it looks. They also spotlight the American Heart Association in this episode’s community feature and close out with a Tools of the Trade segment on the blood pressure cuff (sphygmomanometer)—the deceptively simple tool every EMT has to master.

Episode Breakdown

00:37 – Celebrating 10 episodes (and one secret pilot)

02:20 – Vital signs: the “proof of life” and what they tell us

05:00 – Spotlight: The American Heart Association ❤️

09:00 – Medical Term of the Week: Baseline

13:20 – Tracking patient trends and reassessments

15:10 – The five core vital signs (and the two bonus ones)

19:00 – Pulse: where to find it and what it tells you

40:00 – Respirations: counting breaths and recognizing effort

43:30 – Skin: “pink, warm, and dry” vs. pale, cool, and clammy

47:00 – Pupils: PERRL, penlights, and what dilation reveals

51:00 – Blood pressure: manual technique and practice stories

1:15:00 – Manual vs. automatic cuffs + pro tips from class

1:21:00 – Tools of the Trade: Blood Pressure Cuff (Sphygmomanometer)

1:22:00 – Student Tip of the Week: Build your own vitals kit

1:29:00 – Closing thoughts & Jonathan appreciation

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⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and storytelling purposes only. It is not medical advice or official EMT training. Always follow your accredited instructors and local protocols.

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🚑 RideAlong: EMT School Links

www.ridealong.bulletn.net