EMS Today

Justin Hester

Do you need inspiration while progressing toward your ideal career as a current or potential first responder? Justin Hester shares his 10 year search for a firefighter position and how he managed to progress to finish his paramedic license later in life. His ability to navigate life challenges and give back to his community while continuing to strive for balance is an example of mental wellness. Thank you firefighter paramedic Hester, for sharing your story.

“I am a student of the job.” - Justin Hester

After the Oklahoma City Bombing

Chris Fields, a retired Oklahoma City firefighter, was in the iconic photo with Baylee Almon, the young girl killed in the Oklahoma City bombing on April 15, 1995. He and Eric Chase have a real talk about addiction, infidelity, suicidal behavior, peer support, healthy connections and mental health resources. There is help for those of you that are struggling, so please listen to the end. Help and resources are available to you and your loved ones.

Talking with Meyer, Penton and Freeman

Chief Douglas Randell chats with Taz Meyer, bureau chief of emergency medical services in Missouri; Larry Penton, the managing partner of Penton Pending; and Oakland Fire Chief Reginald Freeman.

Engagement, Leadership, Accountability and Communication

Host Eric Chase talks with Jonathon Alba, the chief operating officer with Code 4 Emergency Services, talk about engagement, leadership, accountability, communication – and the need for humility, honesty and vulnerability.

Bystander CPR 2.0

Welcome to Real Life Rescues, a podcast that goes behind the scenes and takes an in-depth look into the operational and personal accounts of EMS first responders from Israel’s largest fully volunteer EMS provider, United Hatzalah. The podcast is hosted by EMT-P (Paramedic) Dov Maisel and EMT-B (EMT) Raphael Poch.

Today, we’ll be talking about Bystander CPR 2.0, how engaging the community can – and has – revolutionized the speed at which basic CPR is initiated in cases of sudden cardiac arrest across Israel. In this episode, Dov and Raphael will discuss how a small and inexpensive program became a national initiative that resulted in a shift in the number of bystanders willing and able to perform basic CPR during an emergency.

We will discuss the “Safe Family” education program that involved community members taking a four-hour basic CPR and family safety course which has led to dozens of recent instances where bystanders became the “first” first responders and initiated near-immediate CPR that resulted in lives being saved.

Monte Fronk

How can certain cultural perspectives help with processing grief? Monte Fronk holds many positions as a tribal first responder for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. On May 26th, 2021, Monte’s daughter was murdered in her Minnesota apartment and is classified as a Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women victim. Monte reflects on how he is able to process his grief through his cultural and first responder lens.
"The one unique thing is that in non-native culture we grieve for years... in our stories as our traditional Ojibwe funeral process... is tell everybody that we have to let our loved ones go," he said. "If we continue to grieve, where they are going to.. they wont be happy. They will come back to where they were at. As Ojibwe people, we have to let our loved ones go."

The EMS Handoff Crew Discuss Ketamine

After a short vacation from recording, the EMS Handoff Crew returns to the studio to discuss all things Ketamine. In the news, there has been a significant focus placed on Ketamine after a number of cases have resulted in negative outcomes. How do we go about initial and continuing education regarding medication administration to include Ketamine? There are several questions to ask:

* Solution Looking for a Problem

* Ketamine for Agitated/ Excited Delirium

* Don't Throw the Baby Out with the Bath Water

* Ketamine Lollipops and Training

* Constitutional Rights and Ketamine

* 14,000 vs. 1,400 Patients

* Minimum Competency

* De-escalation versus Pharmacology

* Three Traits of a Professional

License To Innovate: Part 2

Welcome to Real Life Rescues, a podcast that goes behind the scenes and takes an in-depth look into the operational and personal accounts of EMS first responders from Israel’s largest fully volunteer EMS provider United Hatzalah. The podcast is hosted by EMT-P (Paramedic) Dov Maisel and EMT-B (EMT) Raphael Poch.

The world of EMS in Israel has drastically changed in the past 20 years, and United Hatzalah has been at the forefront of technological innovations that have been pushing the field of EMS forward throughout the 21st century. 

In this episode, we will be discussing some of our more recent large-scale innovations, such as the use of the Carbyne communication and location system; our new Rug Gear communications devices and communications technology that we have built with Widebridge systems and the Israeli Pelephone telecommunications network; and our most recent agreement with City Transformer, which will revolutionize the urban EMS system - utilizing a car-sharing program for first response vehicles that can modulate or transform to less than one meter wide. Due to their modular size, these vehicles are easy to park and drive through traffic and allow first responders who are not motorcyclists to respond to medical emergencies faster. 

Apple in Healthcare Technology

Ever wonder what else that Apple Watch on your wrist can do? How about that ECG the patient gave you that they took from it? Let’s explore what the Apple Health app and the Apple Watch can do for us in EMS in this episode of The Ready Room!

Why Are EMS Conferences So Important?

Paul Main, president of American Ambulance Visalia (CA), speaks about the importance of getting together at conferences and how to continue both professional and organizational development.