RideAlong: EMT School

Are You Ready? (EMS Operations: Getting Ready)

EMS doesn’t start when the tones drop — it starts before the call ever comes in. In this episode, we begin our EMS operations block by breaking down what it means to be ready: checking the ambulance, knowing your equipment, understanding the minimum equipment list, and making sure the truck is truly prepared for the next patient. Mike and Jonathon walk through ambulance types, BLS versus ALS equipment, where gear is stored, why truck checks matter, and what EMTs should be looking for at the start of every shift. From oxygen, suction, trauma supplies, airway gear, radios, medications, and pediatric equipment to tires, fluids, lights, batteries, and sirens, this episode focuses on the behind-the-scenes preparation that makes patient care possible. We also talk about why newer providers should learn the truck before the emergency happens, how to use downtime for protocol review and equipment drills, and why operational readiness is just as much a part of good EMS care as assessment and treatment. This episode’s sponsor and Tool of the Trade is the Butterfly BVM from Compact Medical. -------------------------------------- Visit our sponsor, Compact Medical — makers of the Butterfly BVM! https://www.ButterflyBVM.com [https://www.ButterflyBVM.com] -------------------------------------- Episode Breakdown 00:00 – Intro, missing man formation, and episode setup 05:14 – Sponsor Message: Compact Medical and the Butterfly BVM 09:29 – EMS operations overview: preparation, response, and transport 11:44 – Medical Term of the Week: Minimum Equipment List 27:22 – Ambulance types and emergency vehicle design 40:47 – What equipment is carried on an ambulance 46:19 – Blankets, linens, and trauma patient hypothermia prevention 50:37 – Airway, ventilation, suction, and oxygen equipment 51:51 – Cardiac monitors and ALS equipment organization 56:07 – Immobilization, splinting, and bleeding control supplies 58:06 – Communication equipment, OB kits, PPE, and patient restraints 1:01:28 – Medications, narcotics, and agency-specific storage systems 1:07:10 – BLS versus ALS ambulance readiness 1:14:13 – Beginning-of-shift responsibilities and crew handoff 1:17:25 – Vehicle inspection and exterior ambulance checks 1:25:16 – Fluids, batteries, shorelines, and diesel considerations 1:30:48 – Interior cleanliness, seatbelts, lights, sirens, and fuel 1:38:44 – Engine-on checks, warning lights, brakes, and suspension 1:45:50 – Patient compartment checks and critical equipment readiness 1:51:38 – What to do when equipment is missing 1:55:42 – Using downtime for protocols, equipment drills, and map study 2:03:27 – Tools of the Trade: Butterfly BVM 2:18:05 – Student Tip of the Week: NREMT-style practice questions 2:29:00 – Wrap-up and closing thoughts -------------------------------------- ⚠️ 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. -------------------------------------- 🚑 RideAlong: EMT School Links https://www.RideAlongEMTSchool.com [https://www.RideAlongEMTSchool.com]

Tied to Machines That Make Me Be (Special Patient Populations)

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. -------------------------------------- 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 -------------------------------------- ⚠️ 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. -------------------------------------- 🚑 RideAlong: EMT School Links https://www.RideAlongEMTSchool.com [https://www.RideAlongEMTSchool.com]

Push It Real Good (OBGYN Emergencies)

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. -------------------------------------- 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 -------------------------------------- ⚠️ 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. -------------------------------------- 🚑 RideAlong: EMT School Links https://www.RideAlongEMTSchool.com [https://www.RideAlongEMTSchool.com]

Can You Take Me Higher (Altitude, Water, and Animals)

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. -------------------------------------- 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 -------------------------------------- ⚠️ 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. -------------------------------------- 🚑 RideAlong: EMT School Links https://www.RideAlongEMTSchool.com [https://www.RideAlongEMTSchool.com]

EMS 20/20 Simulcast - Split the Party

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. -------------------------------------- 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 -------------------------------------- ⚠️ 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. -------------------------------------- 🚑 RideAlong: EMT School Links https://www.RideAlongEMTSchool.com [https://www.RideAlongEMTSchool.com]