RideAlong: EMT School | Podcast on RSS.com

RideAlong: EMT School

RideAlong: EMT School

by Mike Fiore | Max Lizana | Jonathon Aldridge

Season 1

Close The Doors and I am Gone (EMS Operations - Patient Transport)

Close The Doors and I am Gone (EMS Operations - Patient Transport) In this episode, we close the doors and hit the road for the final part of our EMS Operations series: patient transport. Mike, Max, and Jonathan break down what happens after the patient is loaded into the ambulance, including packaging, stretcher safety, provider safety in the patient compartment, reassessment, hospital notification, verbal reports, transfer of care, documentation, cleaning, restocking, and getting the unit ready for the next call. We also talk through the importance of continuity of care, avoiding patient abandonment, and why the little things, like linens, sheets, and blankets, matter on every single transport. -------------------------------------- Episode Breakdown 00:00 – Intro 08:02 – Medical Term of the Week: Transfer of Care 29:20 – EMS Operations: Getting the Patient Into the Ambulance 52:34 – Provider Safety in the Patient Compartment 1:00:13 – Continuing Care During Transport 1:18:08 – Talking With the Patient During Transport 1:34:14 – Hospital Notifications and Radio Reports 1:48:51 – Pediatric Transport Considerations 1:55:32 – Arriving at the Hospital 2:04:49 – Verbal Report, Signatures, and Transfer of Care 2:10:26 – Terminating the Call and Getting Back in Service 2:30:55 – Tools of the Trade: Linens, Sheets, and Blankets 2:40:12 – Student Test Prep 2:57:17 – Wrap-Up -------------------------------------- ⚠️ 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 https://www.RideAlongEMTSchool.com

No Stop Signs Speed Limits (EMS Operations - Responding)

This week on RideAlong: EMT School, we’re back in EMS Operations and moving from “getting ready” to actually getting out the door. In “No Stop Signs, Speed Limits,” Mike, Max, and Jonathan talk through the response phase of EMS calls: dispatch information, Code 3 responses, lights and sirens, ambulance operations, safe driving, navigation, highway scenes, and what it really means to respond quickly without becoming part of the problem. We also break down Code 3 as the Medical Term of the Week, look at when lights and sirens may or may not be appropriate, and talk through the real-world judgment involved in upgrading or downgrading a response. Then, for Tools of the Trade, we light up a classic: road flares — what they do, how they work, and why they still matter on roadway scenes. -------------------------------------- For all of your EMS supply needs, vist this episode's sponsor: https://www.PennCare.net -------------------------------------- Episode Breakdown 00:00 – Intro, EMS Week, and Penn Care sponsorship 08:37 – Episode setup: EMS Operations — Responding 13:55 – Medical Term of the Week: Code 3 34:05 – Dispatch, 911 calls, CAD, and emergency medical dispatch 48:49 – Sample call scenario: dog bite response 50:41 – Operating the ambulance: readiness, impairment, mindset, and due regard 01:00:42 – Lights, sirens, horns, and emergency warning devices 01:15:18 – Speed, safety, intersections, seatbelts, and multiple-unit responses 01:26:06 – Traffic, weather, construction, rail crossings, bridges, and school buses 01:34:12 – Navigation, GPS, maps, and knowing your first due 01:45:52 – Highway incidents, scene safety, blocking, PPE, and ambulance placement 02:09:46 – Tools of the Trade: Road Flares 02:23:32 – Student tip / test prep questions 02:39:25 – Wrap-up -------------------------------------- ⚠️ 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 https://www.RideAlongEMTSchool.com

Are You Ready? (EMS Operations - Getting Ready)

EMS doesn’t start when the tones drop — it starts before the call ever comes in. In this episode, we begin our EMS operations block by breaking down what it means to be ready: checking the ambulance, knowing your equipment, understanding the minimum equipment list, and making sure the truck is truly prepared for the next patient. Mike and Jonathon walk through ambulance types, BLS versus ALS equipment, where gear is stored, why truck checks matter, and what EMTs should be looking for at the start of every shift. From oxygen, suction, trauma supplies, airway gear, radios, medications, and pediatric equipment to tires, fluids, lights, batteries, and sirens, this episode focuses on the behind-the-scenes preparation that makes patient care possible. We also talk about why newer providers should learn the truck before the emergency happens, how to use downtime for protocol review and equipment drills, and why operational readiness is just as much a part of good EMS care as assessment and treatment. This episode’s sponsor and Tool of the Trade is the Butterfly BVM from Compact Medical. -------------------------------------- Visit our sponsor, Compact Medical — makers of the Butterfly BVM! https://www.ButterflyBVM.com -------------------------------------- Episode Breakdown 00:00 – Intro, missing man formation, and episode setup 05:14 – Sponsor Message: Compact Medical and the Butterfly BVM 09:29 – EMS operations overview: preparation, response, and transport 11:44 – Medical Term of the Week: Minimum Equipment List 27:22 – Ambulance types and emergency vehicle design 40:47 – What equipment is carried on an ambulance 46:19 – Blankets, linens, and trauma patient hypothermia prevention 50:37 – Airway, ventilation, suction, and oxygen equipment 51:51 – Cardiac monitors and ALS equipment organization 56:07 – Immobilization, splinting, and bleeding control supplies 58:06 – Communication equipment, OB kits, PPE, and patient restraints 1:01:28 – Medications, narcotics, and agency-specific storage systems 1:07:10 – BLS versus ALS ambulance readiness 1:14:13 – Beginning-of-shift responsibilities and crew handoff 1:17:25 – Vehicle inspection and exterior ambulance checks 1:25:16 – Fluids, batteries, shorelines, and diesel considerations 1:30:48 – Interior cleanliness, seatbelts, lights, sirens, and fuel 1:38:44 – Engine-on checks, warning lights, brakes, and suspension 1:45:50 – Patient compartment checks and critical equipment readiness 1:51:38 – What to do when equipment is missing 1:55:42 – Using downtime for protocols, equipment drills, and map study 2:03:27 – Tools of the Trade: Butterfly BVM 2:18:05 – Student Tip of the Week: NREMT-style practice questions 2:29:00 – Wrap-up and closing thoughts -------------------------------------- ⚠️ 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 https://www.RideAlongEMTSchool.com

Tied to Machines That Make Me Be (Special Patient Populations)

Some patients require EMTs to slow down, adapt, and think beyond the standard call. In this episode, we break down special patient populations, including patients with developmental disabilities, cognitive differences, hearing or vision impairment, chronic illness, mobility challenges, and technology-dependent medical needs. Mike, Max, and Jonathon discuss how EMTs can approach these calls with empathy, patience, and structure — from communicating with autistic patients and relying on caregivers, to understanding home ventilators, tracheostomy tubes, LVADs, feeding tubes, catheters, ostomy bags, central lines, and VP shunts. We also dig into abuse, neglect, intimate partner violence, human trafficking, mandated reporting, and the role EMTs play in recognizing vulnerable patients who may not be able to advocate for themselves. This episode is all about meeting patients where they are, respecting their dignity, and figuring out what matters most right now. -------------------------------------- Episode Breakdown 00:00 – Intro, episode setup, and life updates 17:59 – Medical Term of the Week: Autism Spectrum Disorder 29:58 – Special patient populations and adapting your EMT approach 35:31 – Disabilities and developmental disabilities 39:09 – Cerebral palsy, ALS, Parkinson’s, and cognitive disabilities 48:01 – Hearing and vision impairment 53:33 – Renal failure and dialysis patients 58:09 – Neuromuscular disorders, stroke deficits, and spinal cord injuries 1:08:17 – Terminal illness, hospice, and end-of-life considerations 1:12:24 – Bariatric patients and transport challenges 1:20:04 – Homelessness, poverty, and limited access to care 1:26:21 – Children with special healthcare needs 1:37:50 – Caregivers as a critical resource 1:50:24 – Technology-dependent patients and medical devices 2:14:24 – Abuse, neglect, and mandated reporting 2:28:30 – Intimate partner violence and scene safety 2:34:43 – Human trafficking red flags 2:39:43 – Tools of the Trade: Ambulance Stretchers 2:54:01 – Student Tip of the Week: NREMT-style practice questions 3:07:15 – Wrap-up and closing thoughts -------------------------------------- ⚠️ 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 https://www.RideAlongEMTSchool.com

Push It Real Good (OBGYN Emergencies)

Episode 40 is here, and we’re going full term. In this episode, Mike, Max, and Jonathon tackle one of the most intimidating low-frequency, high-acuity topics in EMT school: OB/GYN emergencies. From childbirth and labor complications to gynecological emergencies and the realities of caring for two patients at once, the crew breaks down the concepts EMT students need to understand before the call comes in. The guys also discuss the importance of preparation for rare emergencies, the challenges of learning obstetrics in EMT school, and what’s actually inside the OB kit riding on your ambulance. -------------------------------------- Episode Breakdown 00:00 – Intro 04:50 – Why OB/GYN emergencies can feel intimidating in EMT school 07:57 – Support the show / “Buy us a Monster” 09:38 – Disclaimer and discussion about sensitive terminology 17:14 – Medical Term of the Week: APGAR Score 27:00 – Pregnancy terminology and stages of labor 37:00 – Normal childbirth and EMT priorities 57:00 – Complicated deliveries and childbirth emergencies 01:24:00 – Gynecological emergencies 01:52:00 – Trauma and special considerations in pregnancy 02:11:00 – Why OB emergencies are low-frequency but high-acuity 02:12:44 – Tools of the Trade: The OB Kit 02:31:00 – Test-taking strategies and future NREMT prep episodes 02:32:23 – Closing thoughts -------------------------------------- ⚠️ 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 https://www.RideAlongEMTSchool.com

Can You Take Me Higher (Altitude, Water, and Animals)

Environmental emergencies don’t stop at heat and cold — sometimes the real danger comes from water, altitude, and the creatures around us. In this episode, we dive into drowning, diving injuries, high-altitude illness, and bites and stings. We break down what’s actually happening in the body, what EMTs should be looking for, and how to manage these situations in the field — all while sharing real-world experiences (and a few mistakes) along the way. -------------------------------------- Episode Breakdown 00:00 – Intro & Life After EMT School (real-world pressure hits different) 11:00 – Episode Overview: Environmental Emergencies Pt. 2 15:45 – Medical Term of the Week: Acute Mountain Sickness 32:30 – Water-Related Emergencies & Drowning 53:25 – Diving Accidents & Scuba Complications (Air Embolism, Decompression Sickness) 1:26:30 – High-Altitude Emergencies (HAPE & HACE) 1:40:00 – Bites, Stings, and Envenomation 2:05:00 – Tools of the Trade: Flashlights 2:16:30 – Student Tip: NREMT-Style Questions -------------------------------------- ⚠️ 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 https://www.RideAlongEMTSchool.com

I Never Meant To Be So Cold (Environmental – Hot and Cold Emergencies)

Environmental emergencies can sneak up fast, and once the body starts losing its ability to regulate temperature, things can go downhill in a hurry. In this episode, we break down hot and cold emergencies, focusing on how the body responds to temperature extremes, what warning signs EMTs should watch for, and when simple exposure becomes a true medical emergency. Mike, Max, and Jonathan walk through active versus passive warming and cooling, the physiology behind hypothermia and hyperthermia, and how heat loss, dehydration, exposure, and poor decision-making can all stack together in the field. From frostbite and local cold injuries to heat exhaustion and heat stroke, this episode is all about recognizing problems early and treating temperature emergencies before they spiral. -------------------------------------- Subscribe to the EMS20/20 Podcast! Get notified when our episode goes live. https://ems2020.com/ -------------------------------------- Episode Breakdown 00:00:00 – Intro, episode setup, and EMS 20/20 guest appearance discussion 00:11:26 – Medical Term of the Week: Active and Passive Rewarming and Cooling 00:26:13 – Body temperature regulation and homeostasis overview 00:42:00 – Hypothermia: causes, stages, and treatment priorities 01:20:05 – Local cold injuries, frostbite, and field care 01:32:09 – Heat emergencies: heat exhaustion and heat stroke 01:51:20 – Tools of the Trade: Mylar Blankets 02:01:30 – Student Tip of the Week: Test Prep with Jonathan 02:13:29 – Wrap-up and closing thoughts -------------------------------------- ⚠️ 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 https://www.RideAlongEMTSchool.com

Multi-System of a Down (Multisystem Trauma)

Multisystem trauma patients present one of the biggest challenges in prehospital care — multiple injuries, competing priorities, and the constant risk of rapid deterioration. In this episode, we break down how EMTs identify high-risk trauma patients using mechanism of injury, physiologic findings, anatomic criteria, and special patient considerations, along with how trauma scoring and transport decisions fit into the bigger picture. Mike, Max, and Jonathan walk through how trauma systems actually work in the field, why older adults and pediatric patients can complicate assessment, and how providers have to balance rapid intervention with getting the patient to the right destination. When everything is happening at once, structure matters. -------------------------------------- Episode Breakdown 00:00:00 – Intro, catching up, and distracted driving discussion 00:20:47 – Medical Term of the Week: Trauma Score 00:35:07 – What multisystem trauma is and why it matters 00:43:15 – Physiologic criteria for severe trauma 00:45:45 – Anatomic criteria and major injury patterns 00:51:06 – Mechanism of injury and predicting hidden trauma 00:57:34 – Special patient populations and considerations 01:05:49 – Managing the multisystem trauma patient 01:42:31 – Tools of the Trade: Oxygen Tanks and Regulators 02:04:25 – Student Tip of the Week: Test Prep with Jonathan 02:18:04 – Wrap-up and closing thoughts -------------------------------------- ⚠️ 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

Flail to the King (Chest and Abdominal Trauma)

Chest and abdominal trauma can rapidly become life-threatening, even when injuries aren’t immediately obvious. In this episode, we break down blunt and penetrating trauma affecting the thoracic and abdominal cavities, focusing on injuries that can compromise breathing, circulation, and major organ function. We discuss pneumothorax, hemothorax, flail chest, internal bleeding, and solid organ injuries, along with how mechanisms of injury help guide suspicion for hidden complications. Understanding how the lungs, heart, diaphragm, liver, spleen, and major blood vessels can be affected allows EMTs to recognize critical findings early and prioritize rapid transport. Trauma assessment is about pattern recognition, reassessment, and knowing when something doesn’t look right — even if vital signs haven’t changed yet. -------------------------------------- Visit our sponsor, SAM Medical! https://www.SAMMedical.com -------------------------------------- Episode Breakdown 00:00:00 – Intro / episode setup 00:07:01 – Sponsor Message: SAM Medical 00:19:03 – Overview of chest trauma and respiratory compromise 00:27:15 – Medical Term of the Week: Flail Chest 00:29:29 – Anatomy and physiology of breathing and chest cavity 00:50:16 – Mechanisms of injury: blunt vs penetrating trauma 00:58:16 – Pain, breathing complications, and patient positioning 01:43:03 – Tools of the Trade: Chest Seals / Occlusive Dressings (SAM Chest Seal) 01:57:30 – Student Tip and Test Prep 02:00:00 – Episode wrap-up -------------------------------------- ⚠️ 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

This is Spinal Snap (Neck and Spinal Trauma)

This is Spinal Snap (Neck and Spinal Trauma) Neck and spinal injuries can be subtle, devastating, and easy to miss — making them one of the highest-stakes assessments an EMT will perform. In this episode, we break down spinal anatomy, mechanisms of injury, red flags for spinal cord involvement, and when spinal motion restriction is appropriate. We also discuss how spinal cord injuries can affect breathing, circulation, sensation, and long-term function, plus how neurogenic shock changes the way the body responds to trauma. Understanding how and why spinal injuries occur helps you make better decisions in the field and avoid causing additional harm during assessment, movement, and transport. -------------------------------------- Episode Breakdown 00:00:00 – Intro / episode setup 00:21:05 – Lead-in to spinal motion restriction discussion 00:21:49 – Medical Term of the Week: Neurogenic Shock 00:32:37 – Anatomy of the spine (cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacrum) 00:37:24 – Vulnerability of the neck and mechanism of injury concepts 01:11:13 – BLS assessment considerations and spinal motion restriction decision-making 01:52:28 – Student Tip and Test Prep 01:53:41 – Episode wrap-up -------------------------------------- ⚠️ 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

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