Ventricular fibrillation (VF) is the most important shockable cardiac arrest rhythm. Still, it's fatal unless good quality, high performance CPR is administered as soon as possible. Lets dive in and really get to understand this rhythm. A special thanks to American Ambulance Paramedic Megan Resendez for sharing a case from the field to get the conversation going.   

Kids test everything, even how far that marble can fit up their nose...or worse! Join us as we discuss how to recognize these cases that are often hard or even impossible to easily diagnose. While usually not too serious, these cases can definitely be dangerous, even deadly.    

In the central valley we are surrounded by agriculture where extremely poisonous pesticides are used on a daily basis. Today we familiarize ourselves with how to recognize and treat such exposures.    

We're called to care, we're here to help, but sometimes a scene can turn and the patient who needs our help might be in crisis and not ready to accept our help. What do we do? Today our usual panel of hosts is joined by American Ambulance's own Ken Katz and Fresno PD Officer Robert Valdez who bring their expertise in de-escalation techniques. 

Special thanks to Dr. Miranda Lewis for stopping by to discuss the plans for the inclusion of this drug in our Central California EMS Agency's first responder toolbox!  

April 15-19 is Telecommunications Week, so today we're joined by representatives from our local Communications Center to talk us through what their shifts are like. So join us as we break down what life is like on the other end of the radio! 

Special thanks to Communications Director Jamie Martin, Call Taker Eloy Robles and Radio Operator/Supervisor Amanda Wilson!

Dr. Patil Armenian couldn't join us for today's podcast, but we have a full panel of guests to talk about the incredibly important topic of scene safety in EMS.

Sergeant Mike Martin join us from the Fresno Police Department, Jamie Martin from the Fresno County Communications Center, Ben Wiele and Ken Katz from American Ambulance, and we have Paramedic Derek Ratzel join us once again to share a story from the field to get the conversation rolling!    

Special thanks to American Ambulance's own Kurt Kindig for sharing his story from the field on this episode. 

GRAPHIC WARNING for the story portion of this episode. Although this is a medical podcast, some things can still be triggering, especially when gore and suicide are discussed. 

This is the first episode that Ben Wiele will be joining the discussion as a regular paramedic co-host. We are very excited to welcome him to our American Ambulance EMS Podcast team!  

A special thanks to American Ambulance Critical Care Paramedic Robert Wankel for joining us for this podcast! 

Possibly our most important episode ever? Share it with everyone you know, because when it comes to surviving cardiac arrest, speed is everything and technique helps a LOT. Bystander CPR absolutely saves lives, so spread the word! 

Special thanks to Dr. Nathan Dreyfus for being a guest host on this episode.