Some patients require EMTs to slow down, adapt, and think beyond the standard call. In this episode, we break down special patient populations, including patients with developmental disabilities, cognitive differences, hearing or vision impairment, chronic illness, mobility challenges, and technology-dependent medical needs.

Mike, Max, and Jonathon discuss how EMTs can approach these calls with empathy, patience, and structure — from communicating with autistic patients and relying on caregivers, to understanding home ventilators, tracheostomy tubes, LVADs, feeding tubes, catheters, ostomy bags, central lines, and VP shunts.

We also dig into abuse, neglect, intimate partner violence, human trafficking, mandated reporting, and the role EMTs play in recognizing vulnerable patients who may not be able to advocate for themselves. This episode is all about meeting patients where they are, respecting their dignity, and figuring out what matters most right now.

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Episode Breakdown

00:00 – Intro, episode setup, and life updates

17:59 – Medical Term of the Week: Autism Spectrum Disorder

29:58 – Special patient populations and adapting your EMT approach

35:31 – Disabilities and developmental disabilities

39:09 – Cerebral palsy, ALS, Parkinson’s, and cognitive disabilities

48:01 – Hearing and vision impairment

53:33 – Renal failure and dialysis patients

58:09 – Neuromuscular disorders, stroke deficits, and spinal cord injuries

1:08:17 – Terminal illness, hospice, and end-of-life considerations

1:12:24 – Bariatric patients and transport challenges

1:20:04 – Homelessness, poverty, and limited access to care

1:26:21 – Children with special healthcare needs

1:37:50 – Caregivers as a critical resource

1:50:24 – Technology-dependent patients and medical devices

2:14:24 – Abuse, neglect, and mandated reporting

2:28:30 – Intimate partner violence and scene safety

2:34:43 – Human trafficking red flags

2:39:43 – Tools of the Trade: Ambulance Stretchers

2:54:01 – Student Tip of the Week: NREMT-style practice questions

3:07:15 – Wrap-up and closing thoughts

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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

https://www.RideAlongEMTSchool.com

Episode 40 is here, and we’re going full term. In this episode, Mike, Max, and Jonathon tackle one of the most intimidating low-frequency, high-acuity topics in EMT school: OB/GYN emergencies. From childbirth and labor complications to gynecological emergencies and the realities of caring for two patients at once, the crew breaks down the concepts EMT students need to understand before the call comes in.

The guys also discuss the importance of preparation for rare emergencies, the challenges of learning obstetrics in EMT school, and what’s actually inside the OB kit riding on your ambulance.

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Episode Breakdown

00:00 – Intro

04:50 – Why OB/GYN emergencies can feel intimidating in EMT school

07:57 – Support the show / “Buy us a Monster”

09:38 – Disclaimer and discussion about sensitive terminology

17:14 – Medical Term of the Week: APGAR Score

27:00 – Pregnancy terminology and stages of labor

37:00 – Normal childbirth and EMT priorities

57:00 – Complicated deliveries and childbirth emergencies

01:24:00 – Gynecological emergencies

01:52:00 – Trauma and special considerations in pregnancy

02:11:00 – Why OB emergencies are low-frequency but high-acuity

02:12:44 – Tools of the Trade: The OB Kit

02:31:00 – Test-taking strategies and future NREMT prep episodes

02:32:23 – Closing thoughts

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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

https://www.RideAlongEMTSchool.com

Environmental emergencies don’t stop at heat and cold — sometimes the real danger comes from water, altitude, and the creatures around us. In this episode, we dive into drowning, diving injuries, high-altitude illness, and bites and stings. We break down what’s actually happening in the body, what EMTs should be looking for, and how to manage these situations in the field — all while sharing real-world experiences (and a few mistakes) along the way.

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Episode Breakdown

00:00 – Intro & Life After EMT School (real-world pressure hits different)

11:00 – Episode Overview: Environmental Emergencies Pt. 2

15:45 – Medical Term of the Week: Acute Mountain Sickness

32:30 – Water-Related Emergencies & Drowning

53:25 – Diving Accidents & Scuba Complications (Air Embolism, Decompression Sickness)

1:26:30 – High-Altitude Emergencies (HAPE & HACE)

1:40:00 – Bites, Stings, and Envenomation

2:05:00 – Tools of the Trade: Flashlights

2:16:30 – Student Tip: NREMT-Style Questions

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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

https://www.RideAlongEMTSchool.com

EMS 20/20 Simulcast - Split the Party

This one’s different—and honestly, one of the most fun (and chaotic) things we’ve ever done.

The RideAlong crew teamed up with EMS 20/20 for a special simulcast episode where EMS meets Dungeons & Dragons. Guided by Chris and Spencer, we were dropped into a high-stakes, dice-driven scenario that quickly spiraled into full-blown EMS chaos.

What started as a straightforward cardiac arrest turned into a two-patient nightmare, tough decision-making, and the kind of curveballs you only get in real EMS—or a tabletop scenario run by EMS 20/20.

This episode is a mix of education, improvisation, and a lot of laughs… but underneath it all is a real look at teamwork, scene management, and thinking under pressure when everything goes sideways.

Huge thanks to EMS 20/20 for having us on—go give them a follow and check out their show.

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Episode Breakdown

00:00 – RideAlong intro + setup for the collab

00:00:32 – Episode concept: EMS scenario meets D&D-style gameplay

00:08:04 – EMS 20/20 intro + scenario rules explained

00:14:14 – Dispatch: 70 y/o male, AMS, difficulty breathing

00:17:40 – Update: CPR instructions in progress

00:22:02 – Arrival on scene + access problem (locked house)

00:30:50 – Patient contact: CPR in progress, chaotic scene

00:37:24 – Additional responders arrive (team expands)

00:44:04 – Second patient identified (spouse deteriorating)

00:56:00 – Cardiac arrest management continues (ALS pending)

01:07:24 – ALS arrives, dual-patient management begins

01:18:21 – STEMI identified → flight activated

01:35:44 – Air medical arrival + patient transfer

01:42:07 – Cardiac arrest declines to asystole

01:46:09 – Decision point: termination of resuscitation

01:52:11 – Scenario breakdown + lessons learned

02:11:48 – Key takeaway: BLS can (and should) activate flight when needed

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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

https://www.RideAlongEMTSchool.com

Environmental emergencies can sneak up fast, and once the body starts losing its ability to regulate temperature, things can go downhill in a hurry. In this episode, we break down hot and cold emergencies, focusing on how the body responds to temperature extremes, what warning signs EMTs should watch for, and when simple exposure becomes a true medical emergency.

Mike, Max, and Jonathan walk through active versus passive warming and cooling, the physiology behind hypothermia and hyperthermia, and how heat loss, dehydration, exposure, and poor decision-making can all stack together in the field. From frostbite and local cold injuries to heat exhaustion and heat stroke, this episode is all about recognizing problems early and treating temperature emergencies before they spiral.

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Subscribe to the EMS20/20 Podcast!

Get notified when our episode goes live.

https://ems2020.com/

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Episode Breakdown

00:00:00 – Intro, episode setup, and EMS 20/20 guest appearance discussion

00:11:26 – Medical Term of the Week: Active and Passive Rewarming and Cooling

00:26:13 – Body temperature regulation and homeostasis overview

00:42:00 – Hypothermia: causes, stages, and treatment priorities

01:20:05 – Local cold injuries, frostbite, and field care

01:32:09 – Heat emergencies: heat exhaustion and heat stroke

01:51:20 – Tools of the Trade: Mylar Blankets

02:01:30 – Student Tip of the Week: Test Prep with Jonathan

02:13:29 – Wrap-up and closing thoughts

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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

https://www.RideAlongEMTSchool.com

Multisystem trauma patients present one of the biggest challenges in prehospital care — multiple injuries, competing priorities, and the constant risk of rapid deterioration. In this episode, we break down how EMTs identify high-risk trauma patients using mechanism of injury, physiologic findings, anatomic criteria, and special patient considerations, along with how trauma scoring and transport decisions fit into the bigger picture.

Mike, Max, and Jonathan walk through how trauma systems actually work in the field, why older adults and pediatric patients can complicate assessment, and how providers have to balance rapid intervention with getting the patient to the right destination. When everything is happening at once, structure matters.

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Episode Breakdown

00:00:00 – Intro, catching up, and distracted driving discussion

00:20:47 – Medical Term of the Week: Trauma Score

00:35:07 – What multisystem trauma is and why it matters

00:43:15 – Physiologic criteria for severe trauma

00:45:45 – Anatomic criteria and major injury patterns

00:51:06 – Mechanism of injury and predicting hidden trauma

00:57:34 – Special patient populations and considerations

01:05:49 – Managing the multisystem trauma patient

01:42:31 – Tools of the Trade: Oxygen Tanks and Regulators

02:04:25 – Student Tip of the Week: Test Prep with Jonathan

02:18:04 – Wrap-up and closing thoughts

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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

Chest and abdominal trauma can rapidly become life-threatening, even when injuries aren’t immediately obvious. In this episode, we break down blunt and penetrating trauma affecting the thoracic and abdominal cavities, focusing on injuries that can compromise breathing, circulation, and major organ function.

We discuss pneumothorax, hemothorax, flail chest, internal bleeding, and solid organ injuries, along with how mechanisms of injury help guide suspicion for hidden complications. Understanding how the lungs, heart, diaphragm, liver, spleen, and major blood vessels can be affected allows EMTs to recognize critical findings early and prioritize rapid transport.

Trauma assessment is about pattern recognition, reassessment, and knowing when something doesn’t look right — even if vital signs haven’t changed yet.

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Visit our sponsor, SAM Medical!

https://www.SAMMedical.com

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Episode Breakdown

00:00:00 – Intro / episode setup

00:07:01 – Sponsor Message: SAM Medical

00:19:03 – Overview of chest trauma and respiratory compromise

00:27:15 – Medical Term of the Week: Flail Chest

00:29:29 – Anatomy and physiology of breathing and chest cavity

00:50:16 – Mechanisms of injury: blunt vs penetrating trauma

00:58:16 – Pain, breathing complications, and patient positioning

01:43:03 – Tools of the Trade: Chest Seals / Occlusive Dressings (SAM Chest Seal)

01:57:30 – Student Tip and Test Prep

02:00:00 – Episode wrap-up

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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

This is Spinal Snap (Neck and Spinal Trauma)

Neck and spinal injuries can be subtle, devastating, and easy to miss — making them one of the highest-stakes assessments an EMT will perform. In this episode, we break down spinal anatomy, mechanisms of injury, red flags for spinal cord involvement, and when spinal motion restriction is appropriate. We also discuss how spinal cord injuries can affect breathing, circulation, sensation, and long-term function, plus how neurogenic shock changes the way the body responds to trauma.

Understanding how and why spinal injuries occur helps you make better decisions in the field and avoid causing additional harm during assessment, movement, and transport.

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Episode Breakdown

00:00:00 – Intro / episode setup

00:21:05 – Lead-in to spinal motion restriction discussion

00:21:49 – Medical Term of the Week: Neurogenic Shock

00:32:37 – Anatomy of the spine (cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacrum)

00:37:24 – Vulnerability of the neck and mechanism of injury concepts

01:11:13 – BLS assessment considerations and spinal motion restriction decision-making

01:52:28 – Student Tip and Test Prep

01:53:41 – Episode wrap-up

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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

Head injuries can change everything in an instant. In this episode, we break down head and skull trauma, including traumatic brain injuries, skull fractures, and why bleeding or swelling inside the skull can quickly become life-threatening.

Mike, Max, and Jonathon discuss mechanisms of injury, signs of increased intracranial pressure, and the importance of identifying subtle neurological changes early. From coup-contrecoup injuries to recognizing deteriorating mental status, this episode emphasizes assessment priorities that help prevent secondary brain injury.

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Episode Breakdown

00:00 – Intro, episode setup, and overview of head trauma

28:35 – Medical Term of the Week: Cushing’s Triad

37:20 – Anatomy review: skull, brain, and protective structures

55:10 – Mechanisms of injury and traumatic brain injury concepts

01:18:40 – Skull fractures, bleeding, and intracranial pressure

01:43:55 – Patient assessment priorities and reassessment

01:56:20 – Tools of the Trade: Penlight for pupil assessment

02:06:30 – Student Tip of the Week: Test Prep Questions

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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

Great tools don’t just show up in EMS — they’re built by people who understand the problems providers face in the field. In this episode, we sit down with Bob Waddell from SAM Medical to talk about the evolution of hemorrhage control, product design, and what it takes to create equipment that actually works when it matters most.

We dive into the story behind SAM Medical, the development of tools like the SAM XT tourniquet and SAM splint, and how real-world feedback from EMS, military, and law enforcement continues to shape innovation. This conversation is all about bridging the gap between the classroom, the street, and the gear we trust to save lives.

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Check out SAM Medical

https://www.SAMmedical.com

Reach out to Bob!

[email protected]

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Episode Breakdown

00:00 – Intro and guest introduction

08:45 – Bob Waddell’s background and path into SAM Medical

22:10 – The evolution of hemorrhage control and tourniquet design

41:30 – SAM Medical products: SAM XT, SAM Splint, and innovation process

01:05:20 – Real-world application and lessons from the field

01:24:10 – Advice for new EMS providers and students

01:36:40 – Closing thoughts and where to learn more

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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