Kids are usually fine...until they're not. Respiratory infections can quickly become life threatening. Join our UCSF physician team and our very own Critical Care Paramedic Travis McSherry, as they discuss severe upper respiratory infections in the pediatric population. 

We don't have too many of these cases here in Fresno California, but it can still happen to people caught out on cold winter nights or up in the mountains. It pays to be prepared for anything. 

Always remember: 
They're not dead 'til they're warm and dead.  

Thank you to American Ambulance's own Mario Torralva for bringing your experience to our show this week! 

Join us for a discussion on Anaphylaxis, a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. Today we are joined by Tiffany Rangel, a Paramedic Supervisor with American Ambulance who shares the story of an anaphylaxis call with us.

Involuntary contractions of muscles of the extremities, face, neck, eyes, abdomen, pelvis, or larynx in either sustained or intermittent patterns that lead to abnormal movements or postures. 

QIs are not meant to be punitive. The goal of Continuing Quality Improvement is to find parts of the job, policies, and/or protocols that need help. We can't know what to fix without identifying how it's broken! Today we're joined by Kurt Kindig (American Ambulance's new Clinical Coordinator) and Amy Campbell (PLN for Fresno's Community Regional Medical Center) to discuss how the CQI process works and why it's so important to a healthy EMS system.      

Dealing with agitated or combative patients is one of the most challenging aspects of the job. Today we are joined by special guest Dr. Matthew Lippi, an emergency medicine resident at UCSF Fresno, as we discuss situations where physical/chemical restraints might be required for the safety of all involved.  

Kids constitute 27% of all ED visits, and it's important to know how their assessment differs from adult patients so that nothing gets missed.