Advertise on podcast: RideAlong: EMT School

What does it take to provide EMS coverage for everything from an NBA game to the Indiana State Fair—and what happens when a planned special event suddenly becomes an unplanned one? This week, Mike sits down at Indianapolis EMS headquarters with Laura Herring, Special Events Lieutenant and a 19-year veteran of EMS. Laura shares her path from originally pursuing nursing to falling in love with EMS, becoming a paramedic, spending 12 years on an Indianapolis ambulance, helping pioneer IEMS's district medic program, and eventually finding her way into leadership and special event planning. Then we dive into the world of EMS special events. Laura explains how Indianapolis EMS prepares for sporting events, concerts, the Indiana State Fair, the Indianapolis 500, severe weather, mass-casualty incidents, and other situations that fall outside normal 911 operations. We talk about planning resources, working alongside fire, police, event organizers and other medical providers, preparing for the things you can't predict, and what it takes to provide medical coverage for some of the biggest gatherings in Indianapolis. Finally, Laura talks about stepping away from day-to-day street medicine, finding a new way to serve her community through leadership, and offers some great advice for new EMS providers about compassion, listening to patients, and remembering that even when something doesn't feel like an emergency to you, it may still be an emergency to the person who called. --- Episode Breakdown 00:00 – Meet Laura Herring 01:18 – What Counts as a Special Event? 03:08 – From Nursing School to EMS 05:14 – Going From EMT to Paramedic 08:16 – Learning EMS in Indianapolis 12:56 – 12 Years on an Indianapolis Ambulance 15:25 – The District Medic Program 18:30 – Moving Into EMS Leadership 23:10 – Finding Special Events 27:01 – The Indy 500 & Indiana State Fair 30:38 – Planning Large-Scale Events 35:31 – What EMS Sees at the State Fair 39:23 – Sporting Events, Concerts & Venue Coverage 42:34 – EMS at the Indianapolis 500 43:53 – The Logistics of Special Events 46:12 – Leaving the Street Without Leaving EMS 48:32 – Laura's Dream Special Event 50:39 – Advice for New EMS Providers --- ⚠️ 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

This week, Jonathan is out working, leaving Mike and Max unsupervised as they catch up on a busy week in EMS. Max shares a memorable psych call, Mike officially starts Anatomy & Physiology, and after more than a year of going through EMT school and starting their EMS careers together, Mike and Max finally get the chance to work their first shift as partners. For Tools of the Trade, we look at Trauma Bears and how something as simple as a stuffed animal can be a surprisingly useful EMS tool—not only for comforting pediatric patients, but also for helping with assessment and providing reassurance to patients experiencing dementia or distress. Then we get into our main topic: EMS standby events. After working a community festival together, Mike and Max talk about providing EMS coverage at fairs, football games, concerts, races, and other special events. We discuss preparing for the event, knowing the layout and available resources, staging equipment, coordinating with other responders, handling everything from minor first aid to calls that become full 911 responses, and the challenge of staying alert when hours of downtime can suddenly turn into a real emergency. -------------------------------------- GET IN ON THE XSHEAR GIVEAWAY!! https://sweepwidget.com/c/102241-iahux8bk -------------------------------------- Episode Breakdown 00:00 – Welcome Back / Jonathan Is MIA 04:57 – XShear Giveaway & Patreon 10:52 – Mike & Max Finally Work Together 18:05 – Max's Psych Call 26:00 – Mike Starts Anatomy & Physiology 35:10 – Tools of the Trade: Trauma Bears 52:27 – Main Topic: EMS Standbys 57:30 – Types of Standby Events 1:03:48 – Standbys vs. 911 1:07:50 – Calls From the Polish Festival 1:11:24 – Preparing for a Standby 1:21:24 – The Carnival Ride Call 1:30:03 – Lessons Learned From Standbys 1:36:41 – Staying Alert During Downtime -------------------------------------- ⚠️ 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

Season 2 is officially underway! Now that EMT school is behind us, there’s another challenge waiting: actually finding a job. This week, Mike, Max, and Jonathan talk about the job search and interview process in EMS, including where to find opportunities, networking, volunteering, building a reputation, preparing for interviews, and figuring out whether an agency is actually the right fit for you. We also catch up on what everyone has been doing during the break. Jonathan is heading into Critical Care Paramedic training, Mike is starting A&P and working through the paramedic school entrance process, and Max recently completed TECC training. Then we debut our new Current Topics in EMS segment with a preview of EMS World Expo 2026 in Orlando, including some of the sessions and presenters Mike is looking forward to and a few of the topics generating buzz in EMS right now. -------------------------------------- ENTER THE GIVEAWAY https://sweepwidget.com/c/102241-iahux8bk VISIT XShear! https://xshear.com/ 10% off with code: ridealong -------------------------------------- Episode Breakdown 00:00 – Welcome to Season 2 09:00 – What’s Next for Mike, Max & Jonathan 29:00 – Current Topics in EMS: EMS World Expo 1:08:00 – Job Searching in EMS 1:23:00 – Networking and Getting Your Foot in the Door 1:39:00 – Preparing for the EMS Interview 2:02:00 – Interviewing the Agency 2:16:00 – Rejection, Reputation, and Final Advice -------------------------------------- ⚠️ 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

Re-Education Through Labor (What's Next?) It’s the end of Season 1! After 53 episodes of following Mike and Max through EMT school, certification, volunteering, and eventually getting hired in EMS, the crew takes a look back at just how much has changed since the journey began — and how much there still is left to learn. Mike, Max, and Jonathan revisit some of the biggest skills and lessons from EMT school, from CPR, airway management, bleeding control, splinting, medications, and patient assessment to the less tangible lessons of finding a community in EMS and realizing just how rewarding the profession can be. Jonathan also reflects on how watching two brand-new EMTs experience EMS for the first time helped reinvigorate his own passion for the field. Then it’s time to look forward. The crew explores what lies beyond the BLS scope, including IV and IO access, cardiac monitoring, pharmacology, advanced airway management, chest decompression, and other ALS skills. Finally, everyone shares what comes next personally — fire and special operations for Max, critical care and flight medicine for Jonathan, and a potential trip to paramedic school for Mike — before looking ahead to Season 2 of RideAlong. -------------------------------------- VISIT OUR SPONSOR: https://www.SAMmedical.com -------------------------------------- Episode Breakdown 00:00 – Intro 00:30 – Welcome to the Season 1 finale 02:20 – Looking back at how much we learned 07:11 – Thanking our listeners 08:43 – Thanking the sponsors who supported Season 1 13:30 – The upcoming RideAlong giveaway 18:40 – Re-Education Through Labor: What comes next? 21:19 – Looking back at the BLS skills we learned 37:01 – CPAP, medications, and patient assessment 42:08 – The biggest lessons we took away from EMT school 47:07 – What did Jonathan learn from the journey? 57:50 – What comes after BLS? 01:01:24 – IV and IO access 01:09:12 – Cardiac monitoring and advanced cardiac care 01:12:34 – ALS pharmacology 01:19:14 – Advanced airway management 01:25:17 – Chest decompression and advanced trauma skills 01:29:18 – What’s next for Max? 01:33:05 – What’s next for Jonathan? 01:38:24 – What’s next for Mike? 01:43:48 – What’s next for the RideAlong podcast? 01:46:04 – Wrapping up Season 1 -------------------------------------- ⚠️ 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

The final countdown is here. With the EMT curriculum behind them, Mike and Max revisit one of the final—and most intimidating—steps in the certification process: the psychomotor exam. The crew explains what psychomotor testing evaluates, how practical exams differ between programs and states, and why verbalizing every assessment, decision, and intervention is essential. They break the patient assessment process into manageable phases, review common critical failures, and share strategies for staying organized when the pressure is on. Then Jonathan puts Mike and Max back in the hot seat with two full patient scenarios: a 55-year-old experiencing chest pain after mowing the lawn and a 10-year-old in severe respiratory distress on a school playground. Can they still perform a textbook assessment after months of working in the field—or will real-world habits derail the process? -------------------------------------- Check out PocketPrep! www.RideAlongEMTSchool.com/PocketPrep -------------------------------------- Episode Breakdown 00:00 – Welcome to the Final Countdown 05:33 – Pocket Prep and Season 2 Updates 19:59 – Medical Term of the Week: Psychomotor Exam 46:39 – Preparing for the Psychomotor Exam 55:49 – The Optimal Patient Assessment Flow 1:21:57 – Top 10 Psychomotor Exam Pitfalls 1:33:32 – Scenario 1: The Pastrami Problem 2:05:42 – Scenario 2: Pediatric Respiratory Distress 2:37:23 – NREMT Test Prep Questions 2:51:12 – The Importance of Repetition -------------------------------------- ⚠️ 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

This week on RideAlong: EMT School, Mike and Jonathan are joined by longtime EMT, EMS educator, hockey goalie, and lifelong friend Brian Santora for a conversation about mentorship, EMS education, and preparing for the NREMT exam. Brian shares how a desire to work in the air-conditioned health lodge at a remote Scout camp unexpectedly launched his EMS career, why teaching and mentoring new providers became a calling, and what students should expect as they move from textbook medicine into real-world patient care. Then the crew breaks down NREMT test preparation, including how to approach scenario-based questions, why students must separate local protocols and street experience from textbook answers, which subjects commonly cause trouble, when to take mock exams, and how tools like Pocket Prep can identify weaknesses before test day. The episode wraps up with five practice questions that prove even experienced providers can get tripped up—and why getting a question wrong should become a learning opportunity instead of quicksand. -------------------------------------- NREMT TEST PREP WITH POCKET PREP Practice NREMT-style questions, review detailed answer explanations, and track your performance across the exam categories. https://www.RideAlongEMTSchool.com/PocketPrep -------------------------------------- Episode Breakdown 00:00 – Intro and Pocket Prep 01:30 – Welcome and introducing Brian Santora 04:43 – Treasure Island, Scouting, and the beginning of a lifelong friendship 10:01 – How an air-conditioned health lodge led Brian into EMS 17:20 – The Sprite story 24:44 – Brian’s EMS career and passion for mentorship 35:20 – Becoming an EMS educator 41:04 – IFT versus 911 experience and building clinical skills 50:17 – Welcoming and mentoring new EMTs 54:06 – NREMT test preparation 58:42 – Textbook answers versus street medicine 1:02:21 – Test anxiety and understanding how you learn 1:06:28 – How to read and break down NREMT questions 1:10:20 – Pediatric vitals and commonly missed material 1:14:08 – Reading what the question actually asks 1:23:51 – The most difficult NREMT subject areas 1:38:12 – When to take NREMT mock exams 1:44:21 – Using Pocket Prep and modern study tools 1:49:27 – NREMT practice questions 2:15:09 – Learning from missed questions 2:17:27 – Avoiding test-day quicksand 2:23:36 – Brian’s advice: listen twice as much as you talk 2:26:19 – 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

In this special interview episode, Mike and Max sit down with one of the most influential people in their EMS journey: Carter Rowe, EMT, firefighter, EMS lieutenant, and leader of the volunteer program at Chalfont Regional EMS. Carter shares how he entered EMS as a teenager, progressed from interfacility transport and critical care work into busy 911 systems, and eventually found himself leading and developing new providers. The conversation explores the value of starting in IFT, the differences between Pennsylvania and New Jersey EMS systems, leading paramedics as a BLS provider, and what students should look for when choosing an agency. They also discuss EMS culture, work ethic, mentorship, mental health, maintaining a life outside emergency services, and why credentials alone do not equal competency. Along the way, Mike and Max finally reveal the identity of the lieutenant they have referenced throughout the show—and celebrate becoming employees at the organization where they began as volunteers. -------------------------------------- Check out Carter! https://www.linkedin.com/in/carter-rowe-96313334a/ https://www.instagram.com/carestartswithcharacter -------------------------------------- Episode Breakdown 00:00 – Intro and introducing Lieutenant Carter Rowe 02:54 – Mike and Max reveal their EMS service and employment news 05:09 – Leadership, mentorship, and Carter’s surprisingly young age 08:34 – Care Starts with Character 10:07 – Carter’s path into fire and EMS 14:05 – Starting young and learning through interfacility transport 19:04 – Fire versus EMS as a career 20:09 – Working in Trenton and the New Jersey EMS model 25:53 – Moving from provider to EMS leadership 27:50 – Building and managing a volunteer program 34:11 – Leading paramedics as a BLS provider 38:27 – Carter’s future education and career goals 40:06 – What new EMTs should look for in an agency 43:21 – Red flags, equipment, and organizations that invest in their people 48:26 – How students can stand out during clinical time 51:00 – Communication, patient interaction, and work ethic 55:31 – Finding purpose as an EMS provider and leader 58:08 – Motorcycles, risk, and living beyond the job 1:03:02 – Mental health and the cumulative effects of EMS 1:09:27 – Burnout, balance, friendships, and management 1:15:05 – The Great Uncrustables Debate 1:18:25 – Closing advice: Credentials do not equal competency -------------------------------------- ⚠️ 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

This week on RideAlong: EMT School, we’re talking terrorism, active threats, and what EMTs need to understand when an emergency scene may still be dangerous. Mike, Max, and Jonathan walk through domestic and international terrorism, CBRNE incidents, warning signs, responder safety, secondary devices, mass-casualty considerations, decontamination, and the EMT’s role during some of the most complex incidents imaginable. We also talk through recent experiences on the ambulance, why motivation matters less than the hazards facing responders, how terrorism overlaps with HazMat and MCI operations, and why tactical medicine and additional training can help providers prepare for low-frequency, high-consequence events. -------------------------------------- Check out our Sponsor, Iron Forge Consulting Group https://www.facebook.com/IronForgeCG/ -------------------------------------- Episode Breakdown 00:00 – Intro and EMS story time 23:50 – Medical Term of the Week: Terrorism 39:41 – CBRNE incidents and types of terrorist attacks 1:15:08 – Recognizing warning signs with OTTO 1:29:02 – TRACEM-P harms 1:39:03 – Time, distance, and shielding 1:48:06 – EMS strategy, tactics, and responder safety 2:05:30 – Emerging threats and tactical medicine 2:10:47 – Tools of the Trade: Ballistic Protection 2:28:46 – Test Prep: DKA, airway sounds, and anaphylaxis -------------------------------------- ⚠️ 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

This week on Ride Along: EMT School, we’re talking highway operations, vehicle extrication, and what EMTs need to understand when patient care moves into the wreckage. Mike, Max, and Jonathan walk through disentanglement, scene safety, highway blocking, vehicle hazards, patient access, PPE, electrical dangers, vehicle stabilization, and the EMT’s role while rescue crews work to free a trapped patient. We also talk through real-world ambulance navigation mistakes, fair standby EMS, the difference between extrication and disentanglement, and why this is one of those topics where hands-on training matters. -------------------------------------- Episode Breakdown 00:00 – Intro and EMS story time 33:28 – Medical Term of the Week: Disentanglement 49:17 – Highway operations and roadway scene safety 58:49 – EMS role at vehicle crashes and extrication scenes 1:22:46 – PPE, patient protection, and hazards during extrication 1:28:22 – Scene hazards: traffic, bystanders, and electrical dangers 1:48:23 – Vehicle hazards: airbags, fire, fuel, batteries, and alternative fuel vehicles 2:05:36 – Vehicle stabilization: wheels, side-resting vehicles, and rollovers 2:17:05 – Tools of the Trade: KED Board 2:28:22 – Test Prep: refusals, diastolic BP, body systems, and epistaxis -------------------------------------- ⚠️ 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

You're a Catastrophe Part 2 (MCI & ICS) In this episode of RideAlong: EMT School, we continue our discussion on mass casualty incidents and the Incident Command System. After covering primary triage in Part 1, we dig into what defines an MCI, how disaster plans are built, and why ICS exists to bring order to chaotic scenes. We break down single versus unified command, the role of the incident commander, span of control, EMS branch responsibilities, secondary triage, treatment areas, transportation, hospital notifications, and the importance of keeping ambulances moving during a large-scale incident. For Tools of the Trade, we look at triage tags and how they help responders prioritize, document, and track patients during an MCI. -------------------------------------- Episode Breakdown 00:00 Intro 05:11 What is a mass casualty incident? 07:43 Disaster plans and tabletop exercises 15:08 Examples of MCIs 19:37 Psychological stress during MCIs 30:00 Incident Command System 34:02 Command, operations, planning, logistics, and finance 39:24 Incident command 43:51 Span of control 46:14 Single command versus unified command 48:21 Section chiefs and branch directors 51:11 Incident commander responsibilities 01:02:50 Chain of command and freelancing 01:08:46 EMS roles within ICS 01:15:11 Triage supervisors and secondary triage 01:25:04 Treatment supervisors 01:31:27 Transportation and hospital distribution 01:39:12 Hospital notifications 01:54:25 Tools of the Trade: Triage tags 02:08:00 Test prep 02:21:40 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

In this episode, Mike, Max, and Jonathan kick off the first half of their MCI and ICS discussion, focusing on primary triage. After a brief note about technical difficulties that cut the episode short, the crew explores what makes a mass-casualty incident so overwhelming, how incident command helps organize chaos, and why triage is one of the most important skills EMS providers need when resources are limited. The Medical Term of the Week is primary triage, including how patients are sorted during an MCI, what the red/yellow/green/black categories mean, and the difference between START and SALT triage. The episode also touches on scene organization, casualty collection points, lifesaving interventions, and how different systems may use different triage methods depending on local protocol. -------------------------------------- Check out our Sponsor! www.SAMmedical.com -------------------------------------- Episode Breakdown 00:00 – Intro 00:30 – A note from Mike about the shortened episode 01:18 – Welcome to Episode 46: You’re a Catastrophe 02:37 – MCI and ICS overview 05:26 – SAM Medical shoutout 07:49 – EMS updates and staying sharp 11:34 – EMS 20/20, mental rehearsal, and avoiding burnout 17:28 – Getting into incident command and MCI 18:20 – Why MCI and ICS are linked 20:43 – The origins and scalability of ICS 24:38 – Medical Term of the Week: Primary Triage 25:19 – What triage means and why it matters 27:21 – Triage priority categories: red, yellow, green, and black 30:23 – Triage tags and reassessment 33:37 – START triage explained 36:32 – RPM: respirations, perfusion, mental status 41:10 – SALT triage explained 45:28 – Lifesaving interventions during triage 48:00 – START vs. SALT in practice 49:36 – MARCH assessments and active threat considerations 52:29 – Closing note and preview of Part 2 -------------------------------------- ⚠️ 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

This week on RideAlong: EMT School, Mike, Max, and Jonathan dive into HazMat — hazardous materials, scene safety, and why the best first move is often staying far away from whatever is leaking, burning, spilling, or glowing. The Medical Term of the Week is zones, covering the hot zone, warm zone, and cold zone, and how those operational areas help protect responders, patients, and everyone else on scene. Then the crew gets into what actually counts as a hazardous materials incident, how EMTs fit into the response, training levels, DOT hazard classes, placards, the NFPA 704 diamond, decontamination, and the importance of identifying substances from a safe distance. For Tools of the Trade, Max walks through the Emergency Response Guidebook, or ERG, and why it is one of the key references for HazMat awareness. The episode wraps up with HazMat-focused test prep and the reminder that EMTs do not need to be heroes in the hot zone — they need to recognize the hazard, isolate the area, call the right resources, and stay safe. -------------------------------------- VISIT OUR SPONSOR: https://www.MicroDotCS.com -------------------------------------- Episode Breakdown 00:00 — Intro 06:54 — Welcome to “Spill Em All” 07:56 — RideAlong updates 18:03 — Sponsor: MicroDot Glucose Monitor Kit 19:30 — Medical Term of the Week: Zones 30:18 — Main Topic: What is HazMat? 39:26 — HazMat training levels and HAZWOPER 49:49 — Scene safety and keeping the public out 59:52 — Identifying hazardous materials safely 01:01:48 — Placards and the NFPA 704 diamond 01:16:09 — DOT hazard classes 01:21:53 — Introducing the Emergency Response Guidebook 01:24:27 — Decontamination and patient care 01:46:28 — Tool of the Trade: ERG 01:59:59 — Student Test Prep 02:11:29 — 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

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

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

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