There is an overwhelming sense amongst EMS providers that they are trapped in EMS. They got in not quite knowing what the reality VS the promise of EMS was. That feeling was only intensified during the pandemic. Now they feel like there is no way out. It can almost feel like a prison sentence without a released date. Former inmate and now advocate Jesse Crosson relates to this as he served a considerable amount of time in prison (More so than sentence guidelines recommended) and found that while he couldn't change his surroundings, he COULD change his mind and his attitude. Hopefully this can inspire others to build resilience and internal change in order to rise above unfavorable circumstances.

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Ben Abo, a well known physician and researcher (Who maintains his Paramedic license) about a recent paper that he co-authored that found absolutely no evidence to support the practice of spinal immobilization, including the use of rigid cervical collars. This paper was a comprehensive review and meta-analysis, which is the highest form of evidence on the hierarchy of evidence. We dive into the data, the dogma, and how patients' quality of life and well-being are being ritually sacrificed to the use of these devices.

EMS Avenger teams up with fellow EMS Podcaster Dan Mouring of Paramedic AF in a TikTok Live to discuss what our system paradigm currently is, how our system is failing, the ethos we should have in EMS, what is standing in the way of fixing it, and what we can do to turn things around. We aren't holding back or pulling punches in this episode. And as a bonus we're joined later in the episode by Ashlynn O'Dell and Redbeard the Medic!

In this episode I speak to Dr. Peter Antevy about Palm Beach County Fire and Rescue's (PBCFR) Cardiac Arrest Practices, and how he sets them up for success as their medical director. We cover what they're measuring, what they're performing, and most importantly, how many lives they are saving!

Did you think We were finally starting to make headway on the fight against Epi in cardiac arrest? Did you think bicarb was finally out of the minds of providers now even though it hasn't been in the ACLS algorithm in recent history? Are you tired of explaining why Narcan isn't indicated in cardiac arrest? Well hold up! Because Dr. Jeff Jarvis are about to make you BIG MAD with some new data.

In this episode I talk to FlightBridgeEd's Eric Bauer about what happens after we intubate a patient. Eric, with the help of Dr. Michael Lauria, has been developing a way to organize post-intubation management with the PHACTORS mnemonic. We go through these factors one letter at a time and break down managing that patient once they've been intubated. That patient that you've intubated? They are now more dependent on your management than they were before, so it's vital that you be constantly thinking about that ongoing management.

EMS rehearses and drills cardiac arrest care repeatedly. We have HP-CPR and resuscitation academies. We are ALWAYS looking for ways to improve survival rates. But...we are way more likely to encounter a patient with sepsis, something that will kill as many people as survive cardiac arrest. But we have a much greater ability to improve those numbers. So why don't we OWN sepsis? Dr. Peter Antevy and I dive into why EMS doesn't have High-Performance Sepsis care and Sepsis academies and bragging rights to our amazing sepsis survival numbers.

In Episode 2, I wanted Maya to take us out with a story from the Grodeyo Rodeo. But I am dedicated to keeping my Episodes at a 20 minute length. So here is a bonus Episode with Maya with an awesome story. I also spoke with Maya briefly about the fact that her stories are an example of how we can take this trauma that we are exposed to on a daily basis, and find cathartic ways to deal with it that aren't toxic and that don't reflect poorly on us as providers.

Maya and I talk about the disconnect between how you're performing, and how you think you're being perceived. Are you just really clever but not actually who you say you are, or who you're perceived to be? Maya and I explore that feeling and how to work with it.

In the debut Episode of EMS Avenger: 20 Minutes to Save the World, Jimmy speaks with Nick Nudell about the concept of re-titling all EMS personnel to various levels of Paramedic, establishing and enforcing standards within the industry, and bring EMS into the 21st century by following models established in Canada, the UK, and Australia. Nick Nudell is the president of the American Paramedic Association and is one of the people behind the recent launch of the American College of Paramedics.

EMSAvenger.com

https://americanparamedics.org/