Disaster Podcast

We brought back Dan McGuire from CISM Perspectives to talk about stress management for all healthcare professionals in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dan compares the stress seen by EMS, ER, and other hospital staff in major pandemic hot spots around the world to the stresses seen by responders on and after the 9/11 attacks.

We discuss the importance of stress management in the face of recent suicides by EMS, nurses, and physicians surrounding COVID. We also enlist 911 Dispatcher and Meteorologist Kyle Nelson into the discussion to talk about the impacts on that part of the first response community.

Also on the show were Dr. Joe Holley, Meteorologist Becky DePodwin, along with co-hosts Sam Bradley, and Jamie Davis.

Watch our Facebook Disaster Podcast Discussion Group for links to a hotline for stress management aimed at all COVID-19 responders and healthcare workers.

Join the Discussion

Join the discussion after the show with co-hosts Sam Bradley and Jamie Davis, the Podmedic in our Disaster Podcast Facebook Group now!

Paragon Brings “The Experience”

Paragon Medical Education Group specializes in bringing what they call “The Experience” to jurisdictions around the country. They bring together police, fire, EMS, and hospital teams to train together and learn what to expect from each diverse group in the response team so that each knows what to expect from the other and how to back the other groups up. Visit Paragon’s site at ParagonMedicalGroup.com for more information on how this can be brought into your system.

Disaster Podcast host Jamie Davis touches base again with Dr. Joe Holley for our eighth bonus update on the COVID-19 outbreak kicking off the month of May 2020. Our understanding of the way this virus impacts our patients is still evolving. Watch for more of these updates a one or two times a week on top of our normal episode rotation as Joe has more information to share with us.

Here are the key points Joe covered on this call:

COVID-19 and the New Normal for Health Care:

* Systems settle into routines for care and staffing

* Preparations are in place based on lessons learned so far

COVID-19 Young Patient Presentation

* Younger patients may present with symptoms similar to Kowasaki Disease

* This is rare response to viral infections in young patients

* Causes obstructive coronary artery disease due to inflamatory response

* Diagnosed by recognizing a constellation of symptoms outlined by Dr. Joe in episode

Other presentation in kids

* Gastroenteritis symptoms including abdominal pain, diarrhea

* If young patients present with fever and GI symptoms, suspect COVID as possible diagnosis

* Take precautions with PPE

On the testing front

* One Florida study tested city sewage for viral RNA present and found levels 4 times what would be expected with diagnosed cases in city.

* This may indicate far more asymptomatic cases shedding virus via GI tract

* Some areas testing unresuscitated (DOA) cardiac arrest patients for COVID and finding large number of positive cases

More Updates Soon

Stay tuned for more updates periodically in the coming weeks as Joe reaches out amidst his duties and busy schedule to share his viewpoint on the response with us as he is able.

Join the Discussion

Join the discussion after the show with co-hosts Sam Bradley and Jamie Davis, the Podmedic in our Disaster Podcast Facebook Group now!

Paragon Brings “The Experience”

Paragon Medical Education Group specializes in bringing what they call “The Experience” to jurisdictions around the country. They bring together police, fire, EMS, and hospital teams to train together and learn what to expect from each diverse group in the response team so that each knows what to expect from the other and how to back the other groups up. Visit Paragon’s site at ParagonMedicalGroup.com for more information on how this can be brought into your system.

On this episode, we examine little known or talked-about side effects of the COVID pandemic. This is based on several articles from three of our favorite docs and show guests Seth Collings Hawkins, MD, FAEMS, FACEP, MFAWM , Sarah Frances McClure, DO, NRP , Benjamin Abo, DO, EMT-P, FAWM, along with paramedic David Fifer, co-host of the RAW Medicine Podcast with Dr. Seth. We also have our disaster weather and emergency management expert on with Becky DePodwin.

The gang talks about the following tough topics surrounding COVID:

* Challenges with Long Term PPE Use

* In the Wilderness Setting

* Rebreathing CO2 over long shifts in hospital setting

* Seth Coined the Term COVID-Lateral Damage in an article

* Economic

* Inherent Dangers Treating COVID Patients

* Stress Management in Hospital Setting

* “Impossible” now Possible in the Face of COVID Necessities

* Increased Telemedicine Use

* Changes to EMS Transport-Only Model Looming

* EMS Use of Ultrasound Diagnostics in the Field

* Managing a Pandemic in a “Post-Truth” World

* Failure to trust science

* Bad news treated as political in nature

* Ignoring Expert Advice

Join the discussion with co-hosts Sam Bradley and Jamie Davis, the Podmedic in our Disaster Podcast Facebook Group now!

Paragon Brings “The Experience”

Paragon Medical Education Group specializes in bringing what they call “The Experience” to jurisdictions around the country. They bring together police, fire, EMS, and hospital teams to train together and learn what to expect from each diverse group in the response team so that each knows what to expect from the other and how to back the other groups up. Visit Paragon’s site at ParagonMedicalGroup.com for more information on how this can be brought into your system.

 

We touch base again with Dr. Joe Holley for our seventh bonus update on the COVID-19 outbreak wrapping up the month of April. Our understanding of the way this virus impacts our patients is still evolving. Watch for more of these updates a one or two times a week on top of our normal episode rotation as Joe has more information to share with us.

Here are the key points Joe covered on this call:

COVID-19 Presentation and STEMI:

* Patients present with STEMI indications

* Subsequent Cath-Lab shows open coronary arteries

* International Cardiology Organizations urge no change to STEMI protocols despite some false STEMI presentations due to COVID-19

COVID-19 Young vs Old Patient Presentation

* Younger patients may present with coagulopathy symptoms (CVA, PE, Cardiac Arrest)

* Older Patients may more often present with hypoxemia, respiratory symptoms

* As testing continues to expand more signs and symptoms added to presentation

Testing in Workplace

* Antibody testing requires medical oversight to provide interpretation of test results

* Public safety organizations should consult with medical directors carefully about tests

* Private sector companies seeking guidance on employee testing may want to engage a company medical director or utilize insurance resources for direction

Also on the show with Dr. Joe are co-hosts Sam Bradley and Jamie Davis, and our emergency management and meteorology expert Becky DePodwin.

More Updates Soon

Stay tuned for more updates periodically in the coming weeks as Joe reaches out amidst his duties and busy schedule to share his viewpoint on the response with us as he is able.

Join the Discussion

Join the discussion after the show with co-hosts Sam Bradley and Jamie Davis, the Podmedic in our Disaster Podcast Facebook Group now!

Paragon Brings “The Experience”

Paragon Medical Education Group specializes in bringing what they call “The Experience” to jurisdictions around the country. They bring together police, fire, EMS, and hospital teams to train together and learn what to expect from each diverse group in the response team so that each knows what to expect from the other and how to back the other groups up. Visit Paragon’s site at ParagonMedicalGroup.com for more information on how this can be brought into your system.

Our own meteorologist Becky DePodwin comes on to discuss crisis management and the importance of messaging. In the middle of the current COVID-19 response and crisis, messaging is an important part of any emergency manager’s tool kit.

Becky and the podcast team discuss leadership styles and why being proactive as a leader is more important than being reactive to an ongoing crisis. Sam cites past disasters like Hurricane Katrina and Jamie talks about how weather messaging has changed over the years to improve understanding among the public when it comes to storm dangers.

Also on the show are Dr. Joe Holley, along with co-hosts Sam Bradley, and Jamie Davis.

Join the Discussion

Join the discussion after the show with co-hosts Sam Bradley and Jamie Davis, the Podmedic in our Disaster Podcast Facebook Group now!

Paragon Brings “The Experience”

Paragon Medical Education Group specializes in bringing what they call “The Experience” to jurisdictions around the country. They bring together police, fire, EMS, and hospital teams to train together and learn what to expect from each diverse group in the response team so that each knows what to expect from the other and how to back the other groups up. Visit Paragon’s site at ParagonMedicalGroup.com for more information on how this can be brought into your system.

We touch base again with Dr. Joe Holley for our sixth bonus update on the COVID-19 outbreak. Watch for more of these updates a one or two times a week on top of our normal episode rotation as Joe has more information to share with us.

Here are the key points Joe covered on this brief call:

General COVID-19 Presentation and Care:

* Respiratory illness most common, however,

* Early illness differs from typical ARDS

* Ventilator settings vary widely across disease process

* Mutiple body systems impacted possibly related to angiotensin II sites

* Liver

* Kidneys

* Lower GI tract

* Neurological

* Stroke, Sudden Cardiac Arrest, Pulmonary Edema related to micro-clotting and micro-angiopathic damage (capillary injury)

* Use PPE for ALL patients due to wide pattern of COVID presentation

More Updates Soon

Stay tuned for more updates periodically in the coming weeks as Joe reaches out amidst his duties and busy schedule to share his viewpoint on the response with us as he is able.

Join the Discussion

Join the discussion after the show with co-hosts Sam Bradley and Jamie Davis, the Podmedic in our Disaster Podcast Facebook Group now!

Paragon Brings “The Experience”

Paragon Medical Education Group specializes in bringing what they call “The Experience” to jurisdictions around the country. They bring together police, fire, EMS, and hospital teams to train together and learn what to expect from each diverse group in the response team so that each knows what to expect from the other and how to back the other groups up. Visit Paragon’s site at ParagonMedicalGroup.com for more information on how this can be brought into your system.

The podcast team takes a look at two topics in this week’s episode. First we cover a quick COVID-19 update with Dr. Joe Holley. Then we jump into coverage of the devastating line of storms that swept through the mid-South, South-East, and then up the coast through the mid-Atlantic and North-East regions. Our disaster meteorologist Kyle Nelson joins us to talk about the tornadoes and their weather impacts.

On the COVID-19 front, Dr. Joe talks some about the roll out of new serologic COVID antibody tests. He cautions agencies and hostpitals to beware of which tests they buy due to a flood of nearly 90 new kit resellers approved by the FDA. Only three companies are approved to produce said tests. Other brands are simply the original tests, rebranded and marked up in price. This is a buyer beware situation.

Our regular co-hosts Jamie Davis and Sam Bradley keep the show moving along.

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Again, a special thank-you to Paragon Medical Education Group for their continued support of this podcast as our partners in this endeavor to bring disaster medicine to you. Check out their page and educational resources that can help your system be more prepared for what happens in your area.

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Pandemic hospital clean-up is the topic of conversation this week on the Disaster Podcast. Join hosts Jamie Davis, the Podmedic, and Sam Bradley, along with Becky DePodwin as they chat with Kevin Wang from PowerPlusDCU.com. Kevin’s company is one of the premier disaster clean up specialists in the world.

A few years back we featured Kevin on the show about how his company, at the request of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), was asked to come into a major U.S. hospital to swab surfaces in supposed clean and sterile environments. Kevin’s team found some very disturbing things when they revealed their results.

As a result of that event, Kevin and his team created a device that could be used to sterilize hospital rooms between patients. The Bio Blaster is a six-foot-tall UV light emitting device that can be placed in a patient room for ten minutes and sterilize all surfaces prior to admitting the next patient. Check out the Bio Blaster Go Fund Me Campaign which Kevin set up to help them build units in advance of anticipated need during the current pandemic crisis.

PowerPlusDCU on Twitter

PowerPlusDCU on Facebook

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Again, a special thank-you to Paragon Medical Education Group for their continued support of this podcast as our partners in this endeavor to bring disaster medicine to you. Check out their page and educational resources that can help your system be more prepared for what happens in your area.

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We touch base again with Dr. Joe Holley for our fifth short update on the COVID-19 outbreak. Watch for more of these updates a one or two times a week on top of our normal episode rotation as Joe has more information to share with us.

Here are the key points Joe covered on this brief call:

General COVID-19 Presentation and Care:

* Don’t “chase the numbers.” These patients may present with SpO2 sats in 70s or 80s but are still compensating with just supplemental O2. Assess the patient so we don’t rush to tubing them.

* Joe shared to be careful with limited use of CPAP for Pts up to pressures of 12cm of H2O.

* Be prepared to cover pt with supplemental mask covering over nasal cannula or non-rebreather mask.

* More evidence coming in COVID-19 may affect oxygenation capacity of hemoglobin in some way. Joe has thoughts on the episode regarding treating for ARDS vs treating like high-altitude sickness.

More Updates Soon

Stay tuned for more updates periodically in the coming weeks as Joe reaches out amidst his duties and busy schedule to share his viewpoint on the response with us as he is able.

Join the Discussion

Join the discussion after the show with co-hosts Sam Bradley and Jamie Davis, the Podmedic in our Disaster Podcast Facebook Group now!

Paragon Brings “The Experience”

Paragon Medical Education Group specializes in bringing what they call “The Experience” to jurisdictions around the country. They bring together police, fire, EMS, and hospital teams to train together and learn what to expect from each diverse group in the response team so that each knows what to expect from the other and how to back the other groups up. Visit Paragon’s site at ParagonMedicalGroup.com for more information on how this can be brought into your system.

In this episode, we feature Sara Hathaway, disaster author and podcaster who writes post-apocalyptic fiction about preparing for the current pandemic crisis. Also on the show this week are Sam Bradley, meteorologist and emergency management expert Becky DePodwin, and Jamie Davis, the Podmedic.

We discuss with Sara some of the ways people can think “outside the box” when grocery stores are running out of staples. What kinds of things should you stock up on and what should you leave behind. Sara covers it on this episode.

Sara’s books are available on Amazon. The first book in her series is Day After Disaster (The Changing Earth Series Book 1).

Book 2 in the series is Without Land (The Changing Earth Series Book 2).

Book 3 is The Walls of Freedom (The Changing Earth Series Book 3).

Book 4 is Battle for the South (The Changing Earth Series Book 4).

Disaster Never Sleeps, Neither Do We

We will be bringing you more special updates from our Disaster Podcast team members as we get them in from around the world.

Stay tuned here to the Disaster Podcast website at DisasterPodcast.com or on our Disaster Podcast Facebook group for updates and discussion.

Paragon Brings “The Experience”

Paragon Medical Education Group specializes in bringing what they call “The Experience” to jurisdictions around the country. They bring together police, fire, EMS, and hospital teams to train together and learn what to expect from each diverse group in the response team so that each knows what to expect from the other and how to back the other groups up. Visit Paragon’s site at ParagonMedicalGroup.com for more information on how this can be brought into your system.