Episode 21 – The Bitter Taste of Poison

Poisonings and overdoses are some of the most common — and most dangerous — calls EMS providers will face. In this episode, we break down how poisons affect the body, the different routes of exposure, and how EMTs recognize and manage overdose emergencies in the field. We also talk toxic syndromes, scene safety, and why airway management and rapid transport always come first.

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Episode Breakdown

00:00 – Intro and episode overview

06:50 – Overdoses vs poisonings and why both matter in EMS

18:10 – Medical Term of the Week: Toxidromes

34:00 – Routes of exposure: ingestion, inhalation, absorption, injection

1:17:30 – Real-world overdose call and first code experience

1:36:00 – Tools of the Trade: Naloxone (Narcan)

1:50:25 – Student Tip of the Week: Scene safety in poisonings and overdoses

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⚠️ 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.

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🚑 RideAlong: EMT School Links

www.ridealong.bulletn.net

Episode 20 – Get Down with the Sepsis

In this episode of RideAlong: EMT School, Mike and Jonathan break down infectious diseases and sepsis, focusing on what sepsis actually is, why early recognition matters, and how EMTs play a critical role in patient outcomes. Real-world transport experience, historical context, and EMS-focused decision-making come together to turn a dense topic into something practical and memorable.

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Episode Breakdown

00:00 – Intro, ride time updates, and missing Max formation

08:45 – Real-world sepsis case and transport medicine perspective

14:40 – Medical Term of the Week: What sepsis actually is

30:20 – SIRS criteria, EMS recognition, and sepsis alerts

38:00 – Infectious diseases and routes of transmission

54:35 – PPE, exposure risks, and provider safety

02:01:00 – Student Tip of the Week: PPE and hand hygiene

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⚠️ 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.

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🚑 RideAlong: EMT School Links

www.ridealong.bulletn.net

Episode 19 – Rash Against the Machine - Allergic Reactions

Allergies are common. Anaphylaxis is not — and knowing the difference can save a life. In this episode, we break down allergic reactions from mild rashes to full-blown anaphylaxis, why symptoms can escalate fast, and what EMTs need to recognize and act on immediately. From histamine release to airway compromise, epi administration, and transport priorities, this chapter hits fast and hits hard.

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Episode Breakdown

00:00 – Intro and episode setup

04:00 – Allergic reactions vs anaphylaxis: why it matters

09:30 – Medical Term of the Week: Anaphylaxis

18:50 – Recognizing anaphylaxis in the field

32:20 – Common allergens and real-world exposure scenarios

46:45 – EMS priorities: airway, epi, oxygen, transport

01:23:15 – Tools of the Trade: EpiPen and epinephrine delivery

01:44:15 – Student Tip of the Week: Start practicing patient narratives now

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⚠️ 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.

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🚑 RideAlong: EMT School Links

www.ridealong.bulletn.net

Ep 18 – Stroke Me, Stroke Me – Stroke

This week, the crew dives into one of the most time-critical topics in EMS: strokes. Building on the previous episode’s discussion of altered mental status and diabetic emergencies, Mike, Max, and Jonathon break down stroke recognition, seizures, syncope, and why rapid identification and transport are the most important interventions EMTs can provide. From CPSS to BE FAST, this episode focuses on recognizing the signs early and activating the system without delay.

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VIST OUR TOOLS OF THE TRADE SPONSOR!!!

StatPacks

https://www.statpacks.com

Save 20% with code: Bulletn20

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Episode Breakdown

00:00 – Intro, episode title, and EMS life updates

14:10 – Overview of strokes, seizures, syncope, and brain-related emergencies

15:06 – Medical Term of the Week: Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale (CPSS)

22:24 – Public stroke recognition: BE FAST and calling 911

26:55 – Stroke fundamentals: ischemic vs hemorrhagic strokes

30:19 – Blood thinners, falls, and increased stroke risk

32:42 – EMS realities: what you can and can’t do for stroke patients

34:09 – Stroke alerts, hospital pre-notification, and why time is brain

1:04:19 – Tools of the Trade: First In Bag

1:19:55 – Student Tip of the Week: Always determine last known normal

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⚠️ 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.

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🚑 RideAlong: EMT School Links

www.ridealong.bulletn.net

Ep 17 – Pour Some Sugar Down Me – Diabetic Emergencies

This week, the crew breaks down diabetic emergencies — from hypo vs. hyperglycemia to how sugar levels affect brain function and behavior. Mike, Max, and Jonathon dive into altered mental status, the role of insulin and glucose, and how EMTs assess and manage diabetic patients in the field.

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VIST OUR TOOLS OF THE TRADE SPONSOR!!!

microdot / Cambridge Sensor

https://www.microdotcs.com

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Episode Breakdown

00:00 – Intro & “diabeetus” jokes, reports from class

07:10 – Understanding diabetic emergencies: hypo vs hyper

14:45 – Medical Term of the Week: Reticular Activating System (RAS)

28:20 – Altered mental status, AVPU, and when to suspect low sugar

47:50 – Treatment decisions: oral glucose, protocols, and field challenges

1:10:30 – Tools of the Trade: Glucometer (Sponsored by microdot)

1:20:40 – Student Tip of the Week: Angle your test strip to catch the blood drop cleanly

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⚠️ 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.

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🚑 RideAlong: EMT School Links

www.ridealong.bulletn.net

Ep 16: Kickstart My Heart – Cardiac Emergencies

This week, the crew digs into one of the most intense and time-critical topics in EMT school — cardiac emergencies. From understanding how the heart actually feeds itself to recognizing the early signs of ACS, Mike, Max, and Jonathan break down what really happens during a heart attack and why seconds matter more than anything.

They cover STEMI vs. NSTEMI, the electrical chaos behind shockable rhythms, and the subtle warning signs that women and atypical patients often show. Along the way, the guys dive into real-world ALS vs. BLS considerations, stories from the field, and why early 12-lead acquisition has become a lifesaving standard in modern EMS.

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VIST OUR TOOLS OF THE TRADE SPONSOR!!!

xShear

https://xshear.com/

Save 10% with code: RIDEALONG

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Episode Breakdown

00:37 – Opening banter, Monster song requests, and Billy Joel chaos

05:00 – Medical Term of the Week: Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS)

12:00 – STEMI vs. NSTEMI, angina, and “time is tissue”

20:00 – Electrical conduction system, EKG basics, and shockable rhythms

33:00 – Perfusion, shock, and how cardiac output actually fails

41:00 – BLS treatment: aspirin, nitro, oxygen, and positioning

48:30 – CPR, AED use, and early defibrillation

56:30 – Tools of the Trade: Trauma Shears (featuring XShear)

1:07:00 – Student Tip of the Week: Get a 12-lead within 5 minutes of arrival

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⚠️ 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.

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🚑 RideAlong: EMT School Links

www.ridealong.bulletn.net

Ep 15 – I’m Down to One Last Breath – Respiratory Emergencies

This week, the crew breaks down respiratory emergencies — from dyspnea and lung sounds to asthma, COPD, pneumonia, CHF, and pulmonary embolisms. Mike, Max, and Jonathan explore what respiratory distress looks like, how to differentiate major causes, and the tools EMTs use to treat breathing problems in the field.

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VIST OUR EPISODE SPONSOR!!!

StatPacks

https://statpacks.com

Save 20% with code: BULLETN20

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Episode Breakdown

00:00 – Intro, singing, and StatPacks announcement

09:22 – Recognizing respiratory emergencies & assessing breathing “from the door”

10:15 – Medical Term of the Week: Dyspnea

19:24 – Asthma, COPD, pneumonia, CHF & pulmonary edema

38:40 – Oxygen therapy, CPAP, bronchodilators & epinephrine

1:13:00 – Tools of the Trade: Stethoscope

1:22:46 – Student Tip of the Week: Nebulizer spill prevention

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⚠️ 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.

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🚑 RideAlong: EMT School Links

http://www.ridealong.bulletn.net

Ep 14 - I Don’t Try the Drugs, But the Drugs Try Me – Pharmacology

This week, the crew dives into one of the most information-heavy chapters in EMT school — Pharmacology. From oxygen to naloxone, Mike, Max, and Jonathan break down the EMT’s limited but life-saving drug box and the rules that govern every dose.

They explore the difference between indications and contraindications, introduce the Five Rights of medication administration, and talk about the split between EMT-administered and EMT-assisted drugs. Along the way, Jonathan adds perspective from the paramedic’s side — including why communication and documentation matter just as much as the medicine itself.

Episode Breakdown

00:00 – Introduction and book recommendations: Lights & Sirens, Heart of the Storm, and the Ranger Medic Handbook

10:14 – Medical Term of the Week: Indications & Contraindications

29:00 – The Five Rights of Medication Administration

42:40 – EMT-Administered Drugs: Oxygen, Oral Glucose, Aspirin, Naloxone

1:09:50 – Assisted Medications: Epinephrine, Nitro, and Inhalers

1:23:00 – Discussion on Paramedic Scope & Education

1:25:00 – Monitoring, reassessment, and documentation

1:25:30 – Tools of the Trade: Mobile PDR (Physician’s Desk Reference app)

1:33:10 – Student Tip of the Week: Jonathan’s “Triple Check” method for medication safety

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⚠️ 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.

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🚑 RideAlong: EMT School Links

www.ridealong.bulletn.net

Ep 13: The Write Stuff – Reassessment, Communication & Documentation

This week, the crew digs into one of the least glamorous but most critical parts of EMS: communication and documentation. From giving clear radio reports to writing legal patient charts, Mike, Max, and Jonathan explore how every word you say (and every note you write) can impact patient care and your career.

They break down what makes a solid patient report, why written narratives matter more than you think, and how good communication is the backbone of effective teamwork. Along the way, they compare old-school paper charting to today’s digital systems, share ride-along stories, and nerd out over the evolution of EMS radios—from “Johnny and Roy” to modern encrypted trunk systems.

Episode Breakdown

00:37 – Apollo 13 jokes and how NASA inspired this week’s theme

08:45 – Communication in EMS: why it matters more than any skill

14:00 – Medical Term of the Week: Patient Report (and the art of the handoff)

24:10 – How to stay calm and sound confident on the radio

35:00 – Legal documentation, accuracy, and “If it’s not written, it didn’t happen”

47:40 – Tools of the Trade: Radios 📻 – from Astro 25 to trunked digital systems

1:10:10 – Student Tip of the Week: Master your narrative style (SOAP, D-CHART, etc.)

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⚠️ 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.

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🚑 RideAlong: EMT School Links

www.ridealong.bulletn.net

Bonus Episode 02 – Steve Norman: Finding Home in EMS

In this bonus interview, Mike sits down with Steve Norman, Paramedic and District Medic with Indianapolis EMS, for an inspiring look at mentorship, growth, and the journey from small-town EMT to big-city provider.

From his first ride-along in West Virginia to coordinating a multi-agency Complex Coordinated Terror Attack (CCTA) workshop at EMS World Expo 2025, Steve shares how training, teamwork, and teaching others have shaped his career — and what it means to truly “find home” in EMS.

They talk about the leap from rural medicine to a high-volume city system, the birth of Indy’s District Medic (fly car) model, and the power of mentorship in shaping confident, competent providers. Along the way, they swap stories about partnerships, leadership, conference life, and why “slow is smooth and smooth is sexy” might just be the best advice a medic can give.

Episode Breakdown

00:00 – Intro & catching up after EMS World Expo

04:50 – Steve’s role at Indianapolis EMS and life as a District Medic

06:50 – Mentorship, preceptorship, and the value of training others

13:40 – From West Virginia to Indianapolis: chasing opportunity and purpose

22:40 – Rural vs. urban EMS — the culture shift and learning curve

31:40 – Starting over in a new city and finding “home” again

43:30 – Behind the scenes of the CCTA workshop at EMS World Expo

55:30 – The challenge (and reward) of inter-agency collaboration

1:04:40 – Why ongoing education and mentorship matter

1:14:50 – Personal balance, concerts, Broadway, and life outside EMS

1:25:40 – Three with an EMT: Steve’s lessons for students and new providers

1:41:40 – Closing thoughts — “Slow is smooth. Smooth is sexy.”

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⚠️ 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.

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🚑 RideAlong: EMT School Links

www.ridealong.bulletn.net