Episode 19 – Rash Against the Machine - Allergic Reactions

Allergies are common. Anaphylaxis is not — and knowing the difference can save a life. In this episode, we break down allergic reactions from mild rashes to full-blown anaphylaxis, why symptoms can escalate fast, and what EMTs need to recognize and act on immediately. From histamine release to airway compromise, epi administration, and transport priorities, this chapter hits fast and hits hard.

--------------------------------------

Episode Breakdown

00:00 – Intro and episode setup

04:00 – Allergic reactions vs anaphylaxis: why it matters

09:30 – Medical Term of the Week: Anaphylaxis

18:50 – Recognizing anaphylaxis in the field

32:20 – Common allergens and real-world exposure scenarios

46:45 – EMS priorities: airway, epi, oxygen, transport

01:23:15 – Tools of the Trade: EpiPen and epinephrine delivery

01:44:15 – Student Tip of the Week: Start practicing patient narratives now

--------------------------------------

⚠️ 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.

--------------------------------------

🚑 RideAlong: EMT School Links

www.ridealong.bulletn.net

Ep 18 – Stroke Me, Stroke Me – Stroke

Strokes don’t wait—and neither can EMTs. In this episode, Mike, Max, and Jonathan dive into one of the most time-critical emergencies in EMS: strokes, seizures, and syncope. Building off last week’s discussion on altered mental status and diabetes, the crew breaks down how to recognize stroke symptoms in the field, why time is brain, and what EMTs can (and can’t) do before reaching definitive care. From the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale to BE FAST, this episode connects classroom learning to real-world calls and reinforces why early recognition saves lives.

--------------------------------------

VIST OUR TOOLS OF THE TRADE SPONSOR!!!

StatPacks

https://www.statpacks.com

--------------------------------------

Episode Breakdown

00:00 – Intro, episode title, and EMS life updates

13:25 – Overview of strokes, seizures, syncope, and brain-related emergencies

15:55 – Medical Term of the Week: Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale (CPSS)

22:25 – Public stroke recognition: BE FAST and calling 911

26:55 – Stroke fundamentals: ischemic vs hemorrhagic strokes

30:20 – Blood thinners, falls, and increased stroke risk

32:40 – EMS realities: what you can and can’t do for stroke patients

34:10 – Stroke alerts, hospital pre-notification, and why time is brain

36:00 – Tools of the Trade: First In Bag (StatPacks)

38:30 – Student Tip of the Week: Always determine last known normal

--------------------------------------

⚠️ 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.

--------------------------------------

🚑 RideAlong: EMT School Links

www.ridealong.bulletn.net

Ep 17 – Pour Some Sugar Down Me – Diabetic Emergencies

This week, the crew breaks down diabetic emergencies — from hypo vs. hyperglycemia to how sugar levels affect brain function and behavior. Mike, Max, and Jonathon dive into altered mental status, the role of insulin and glucose, and how EMTs assess and manage diabetic patients in the field.

--------------------------------------

VIST OUR TOOLS OF THE TRADE SPONSOR!!!

microdot / Cambridge Sensor

https://www.microdotcs.com

--------------------------------------

Episode Breakdown

00:00 – Intro & “diabeetus” jokes, reports from class

07:10 – Understanding diabetic emergencies: hypo vs hyper

14:45 – Medical Term of the Week: Reticular Activating System (RAS)

28:20 – Altered mental status, AVPU, and when to suspect low sugar

47:50 – Treatment decisions: oral glucose, protocols, and field challenges

1:10:30 – Tools of the Trade: Glucometer (Sponsored by microdot)

1:20:40 – Student Tip of the Week: Angle your test strip to catch the blood drop cleanly

--------------------------------------

⚠️ 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.

--------------------------------------

🚑 RideAlong: EMT School Links

www.ridealong.bulletn.net

Ep 16: Kickstart My Heart – Cardiac Emergencies

This week, the crew digs into one of the most intense and time-critical topics in EMT school — cardiac emergencies. From understanding how the heart actually feeds itself to recognizing the early signs of ACS, Mike, Max, and Jonathan break down what really happens during a heart attack and why seconds matter more than anything.

They cover STEMI vs. NSTEMI, the electrical chaos behind shockable rhythms, and the subtle warning signs that women and atypical patients often show. Along the way, the guys dive into real-world ALS vs. BLS considerations, stories from the field, and why early 12-lead acquisition has become a lifesaving standard in modern EMS.

--------------------------------------

VIST OUR TOOLS OF THE TRADE SPONSOR!!!

xShear

https://xshear.com/

Save 10% with code: RIDEALONG

--------------------------------------

Episode Breakdown

00:37 – Opening banter, Monster song requests, and Billy Joel chaos

05:00 – Medical Term of the Week: Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS)

12:00 – STEMI vs. NSTEMI, angina, and “time is tissue”

20:00 – Electrical conduction system, EKG basics, and shockable rhythms

33:00 – Perfusion, shock, and how cardiac output actually fails

41:00 – BLS treatment: aspirin, nitro, oxygen, and positioning

48:30 – CPR, AED use, and early defibrillation

56:30 – Tools of the Trade: Trauma Shears (featuring XShear)

1:07:00 – Student Tip of the Week: Get a 12-lead within 5 minutes of arrival

--------------------------------------

⚠️ 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.

--------------------------------------

🚑 RideAlong: EMT School Links

www.ridealong.bulletn.net

Ep 15 – I’m Down to One Last Breath – Respiratory Emergencies

This week, the crew breaks down respiratory emergencies — from dyspnea and lung sounds to asthma, COPD, pneumonia, CHF, and pulmonary embolisms. Mike, Max, and Jonathan explore what respiratory distress looks like, how to differentiate major causes, and the tools EMTs use to treat breathing problems in the field.

--------------------------------------

VIST OUR EPISODE SPONSOR!!!

StatPacks

https://statpacks.com

Save 20% with code: BULLETN20

--------------------------------------

Episode Breakdown

00:00 – Intro, singing, and StatPacks announcement

09:22 – Recognizing respiratory emergencies & assessing breathing “from the door”

10:15 – Medical Term of the Week: Dyspnea

19:24 – Asthma, COPD, pneumonia, CHF & pulmonary edema

38:40 – Oxygen therapy, CPAP, bronchodilators & epinephrine

1:13:00 – Tools of the Trade: Stethoscope

1:22:46 – Student Tip of the Week: Nebulizer spill prevention

--------------------------------------

⚠️ 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.

--------------------------------------

🚑 RideAlong: EMT School Links

http://www.ridealong.bulletn.net

Ep 14 - I Don’t Try the Drugs, But the Drugs Try Me – Pharmacology

This week, the crew dives into one of the most information-heavy chapters in EMT school — Pharmacology. From oxygen to naloxone, Mike, Max, and Jonathan break down the EMT’s limited but life-saving drug box and the rules that govern every dose.

They explore the difference between indications and contraindications, introduce the Five Rights of medication administration, and talk about the split between EMT-administered and EMT-assisted drugs. Along the way, Jonathan adds perspective from the paramedic’s side — including why communication and documentation matter just as much as the medicine itself.

Episode Breakdown

00:00 – Introduction and book recommendations: Lights & Sirens, Heart of the Storm, and the Ranger Medic Handbook

10:14 – Medical Term of the Week: Indications & Contraindications

29:00 – The Five Rights of Medication Administration

42:40 – EMT-Administered Drugs: Oxygen, Oral Glucose, Aspirin, Naloxone

1:09:50 – Assisted Medications: Epinephrine, Nitro, and Inhalers

1:23:00 – Discussion on Paramedic Scope & Education

1:25:00 – Monitoring, reassessment, and documentation

1:25:30 – Tools of the Trade: Mobile PDR (Physician’s Desk Reference app)

1:33:10 – Student Tip of the Week: Jonathan’s “Triple Check” method for medication safety

--------------------------------------

⚠️ 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.

--------------------------------------

🚑 RideAlong: EMT School Links

www.ridealong.bulletn.net

Ep 13: The Write Stuff – Reassessment, Communication & Documentation

This week, the crew digs into one of the least glamorous but most critical parts of EMS: communication and documentation. From giving clear radio reports to writing legal patient charts, Mike, Max, and Jonathan explore how every word you say (and every note you write) can impact patient care and your career.

They break down what makes a solid patient report, why written narratives matter more than you think, and how good communication is the backbone of effective teamwork. Along the way, they compare old-school paper charting to today’s digital systems, share ride-along stories, and nerd out over the evolution of EMS radios—from “Johnny and Roy” to modern encrypted trunk systems.

Episode Breakdown

00:37 – Apollo 13 jokes and how NASA inspired this week’s theme

08:45 – Communication in EMS: why it matters more than any skill

14:00 – Medical Term of the Week: Patient Report (and the art of the handoff)

24:10 – How to stay calm and sound confident on the radio

35:00 – Legal documentation, accuracy, and “If it’s not written, it didn’t happen”

47:40 – Tools of the Trade: Radios 📻 – from Astro 25 to trunked digital systems

1:10:10 – Student Tip of the Week: Master your narrative style (SOAP, D-CHART, etc.)

--------------------------------------

⚠️ 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.

--------------------------------------

🚑 RideAlong: EMT School Links

www.ridealong.bulletn.net

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

--------------------------------------

⚠️ 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.

--------------------------------------

🚑 RideAlong: EMT School Links

www.ridealong.bulletn.net