Inside EMS

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. In this episode of Inside EMS, cohosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson discuss the importance of integrity, documentation and tracking errors in the field. Chris spent the past week in jury duty, listening to prosecutors unsuccessfully try a murder case that resulted in a hung jury. He shares details that tripped up law enforcement officers testifying in the case, and the jury’s perspective on errors made, lies told and how integrity doubts derailed the case. Memorable quotes “One of the things that you need to be able to remember is you should not talk about anything that is not written in your report, because they will tear it apart, and I watched that happen ... when we talk about documentation, why documentation is very, very important is because it's the little nuances that you leave out that now you're going to discuss that are going to get you into trouble.” — Chris Cebollero “In working with Gene Gandy back in the day … he used to say that the plaintiff's attorney – in a malpractice case – his job is to make you look like a sloppy idiot, and your attorney's job is to make you look like Johnny Gage. And the weapon that each one of them will use is your report. And it's up to you to determine who it's more valuable to: the plaintiff's attorney or your attorney.” — Kelly Grayson “We, in civil cases in EMS, we don't really get a jury of our peers. You know, we may have people who are demographically very similar to us, but as far as judging our actions, what they know is Hollywood, which is about as realistic a portrayal of EMS and medicine in general as your average Disney movie.” — Kelly Grayson “The briefer your remarks, the better your case is going to be received, and that's true, you know, it's probably just like an EMS lecture. If you go on forever and ever, you lose people. You want to capture their interest, say what you need to say, and set the stage for what's going to come.” — Kelly Grayson Rate and review Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. Contact the Inside EMS team at [email protected] to share ideas, suggestions and feedback, or if you’d like to join us as a guest.

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. In this episode of Inside EMS, cohosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson welcome Chief Gary Ludwig to the podcast. The group discuss imparting knowledge to new medics and Ludwig’s latest book, “385 Things Veteran EMTs and Paramedics Can Teach You: Emergency Medical Technician and Paramedic Tips and Tricks of the Trade.” The book contains information on patient assessment, managing airways, starting IVs, penetrating trauma, crimes scenes and more. Chief Ludwig shares his experience with terrible PCRs, and why we should be teaching medics to write reports like our law enforcement partners. He shares tips like: Why you should always stay in the left lane How to avoid tipping stretchers Why to avoid abbreviations in PCRs For a signed copy, visit www.garyludwigbooks.com. About our guest Gary Ludwig is a well-known author, educator, speaker, and consultant who has served in three fire departments over his career. His fire, EMS, rescue, 911 and emergency management career spans a total of 46 years, including 35 years in two metropolitan cities, St. Louis and Memphis. He has been a paramedic for over 44 years. He served as the president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) during the 2019-20 term, and was selected as the International Career Fire Chief of the Year in 2022. He has a master’s degree in business and management. He has written over 500 articles for professional fire and EMS publications and is the author of four books. He has also been invited to speak at over 400 professional EMS or fire conferences or seminars. He has won numerous awards including the International Career Fire Chief of the Year in 2022, the James O. Page EMS Leadership Award in 2014 and the IAFC EMS Section’s James O Page Achievement Award in 2018. He has managed two award-winning metropolitan EMS systems (Memphis and St. Louis) and was fire chief of an ISO Class 1 fire department (Champaign). In 2022, he was appointed by FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell to the National Advisory Council for FEMA.

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. Suicide is always preventable. If you are having thoughts of suicide or feeling suicidal, please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline immediately at 988. Counselors are also available to chat at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org. Remember: You deserve to be supported, and it is never too late to seek help. Speak with someone today. In this episode of Inside EMS, our cohosts, Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson, are joined by Willie Doan, a paramedic and academy coordinator from Newcastle, Delaware, to discuss the rampant issues of stress, depression, burnout, substance abuse and suicide among first responders. A recovering alcoholic, Doan shares his story of addiction, beginning with his first drink at 14, acknowledging that he often drank more than his peers, but never recognized it as a problem. As he joined EMS and began witnessing distressing scenes as part of his job, he continued to drink, sometimes using his work as an excuse, whether it was to celebrate a successful resuscitation or to numb the pain of a bad call. Despite his dedication to his duty, Doan admits that his addiction worsened. He didn't acknowledge his alcohol problem until he was in rehab and was educated about how substance abuse affects the brain. His turning point came about 604 days ago, when he was arrested on suspicion of DUI, his second in 6 years. Waking up with no recollection of the event, he asked his mother, "What's wrong with me?" This moment marked the beginning of his journey to recovery. Throughout the discussion, Willie underscores the importance of recognizing and addressing addiction in high-stress professions like first responders. His story serves as a reminder that recovery is possible, and that seeking help is the first step towards overcoming addiction. EMS1 is using generative AI to create some content that is edited and fact-checked by our editors. Additional resources Addiction in EMS providers: Always see the human side Gordon Graham: First responders are not immune from the opioid crisis; here's what to know Self-care tips to recover from a traumatic EMS incident Healthy coping mechanisms: The most effective ways to combat stress The Code Green Campaign: Mental health resources for first responders

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. In this episode, our cohosts, Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson discuss the dire straights for rural EMS as Kelly settles into his new region in upstate New York. Tune in as they discuss: Why EMS isn’t deemed essential. Though more states are making moves to designate EMS an “essential” service, it’s not universal. What will the designation mean for EMS – and will it be a tax base? The volunteer shortage. With volunteers aging out of EMS, how do we bring new volunteers in? The diminishing numbers are not due to generational differences, Kelly says. “I used to be one of those people who said, ‘aw, kids these days,’ … it’s not the kids that are bad, it’s that EMS has failed to adapt to the times,” he noted. Getting over ego and grudges. Mergers and consolidation are a path to stem EMS closures, but require getting over old conflicts and for someone to step aside and make way for growth. They ask for your input: What will save rural EMS? Chat with our hosts at [email protected]. RATE AND REVIEW Catch a new episode every Friday on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, PodBean, Amazon Music, Stitcher, Spotify, and RSS feed. Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. Contact the Inside EMS team at [email protected] to share ideas, suggestions and feedback, or if you’d like to join us as a guest.

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. Inside EMS has been serving up industry news and hot topics for 10 years, with over 600 shows and about 2 million listens! In this episode, our cohosts, Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson discuss the importance of getting outside your rig, your agency and your silo to learn from others. Our dynamic duo break down an article from rural EMS expert Nancy Magee on the top 10 reasons to attend EMS conferences. Memorable quotes “If you’ve seen one EMS squad, you’ve seen one EMS squad, and way too many agencies only know their way of doing things, and they kind of stagnate – or they run the risk of stagnating – if they don’t get outside their own little bubble and see the ways that other agencies are doing things.” — Kelly Grayson “If you feel like you’re the smartest person in the room; you’re in the wrong room.” — Kelly Grayson “There are people who are doing the work in organizations who are far more advanced than you are.” — Chris Cebollero “There are very few new problems under the sun.” — Kelly Grayson Listen in as they discuss: Getting out of your comfort zone/tearing down your silos The benefit of networking – seeing what’s working for other agencies How enthusiasm is infectious Additional resources 10 reasons to attend EMS conferences EMS World Expo 2023: Welcome to New Orleans Can’t make it to EMS World Expo? Rate and review Catch a new episode every Friday on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, PodBean, Amazon Music, Stitcher, Spotify, and RSS feed. Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. Contact the Inside EMS team at [email protected] to share ideas, suggestions and feedback, or if you’d like to join us as a guest. LIST

This episode of the Inside EMS podcast is sponsored by Verizon Frontline. The advanced network for first responders on the front lines. Learn more at verizon.com/frontline. “To remember those who have sacrificed, and who ran up the stairs and escorted people in the eyes of danger, you owe it to them to try to be your best every day.” — Aaron Zamzow In this special crossover episode of the Policing Matters, Better Every Shift and Inside EMS podcasts, Cohosts Jim Dudley, Aaron Zamzow and Chris Cebollero come together to discuss preserving the legacy of 9/11 responders and to assess our readiness to respond to a large-scale MCI in our communities. Together, they dive into technology trends that we could (and should!) use to improve the security of citizens and first responders, from license plate readers to crime mapping, facial recognition, drone surveillance and AI analysis. Watch in as our panel discusses: Keeping the 9/11 legacy alive with new generations How awareness of occupational cancer and mental health concerns is more prevalent today Community preparedness and incident command 9/11-related illness and its continued impact and devastation today How AI can contribute to the security of citizens and first responders The importance of information sharing and security Memorable quotes Our cohosts shared poignant reflections of the infamous September day and offered their analysis on how best to prepare first responders for large-scale mass casualty events, with several notable takeaways: “It’s up to all of us to try to get better, try to improve, try to do something to hone our profession to provide the best service we can when we’re called to do that. And that doesn’t require a chief, that doesn’t require leadership; that requires a mirror, and that requires you and some dedication.” — Aaron Zamzow “After 9/11, we had PPE in the trunk of every radio car, and training every year, and little-by-little, the suits expired, the training stopped, the funds ran out; and we may be at a situation worse than before, so we need that impetus to take another run at preparedness, training, exercises, PPE, equipment, and a best practices manual, and that’s got to come from above so that we’re all doing it the same.” — Jim Dudley “The economic factor should not be a factor. FEMA puts out 100, 200, 700, 800 for free to law enforcement agencies and many more subsets beyond that. So if you are an agency – if you’re listening to this podcast – if you’re not practicing ICS, find out why and explain to your chief sheriff, ‘it’s free, we’ve got to do it; we should start doing it now.” — Jim Dudley “We’re not working for today – we’re working for the next 5 and 10 and 15 years now – and how do we need to prepare for this?” — Chris Cebollero “We saw firefighters run into that building – there were police officers there too – that were in harm’s way, trying to get people out of there, and that’s what we do, and now we’re seeing ‘hey, even though we do that, there are harms beyond just that physical incident.’” — Aaron Zamzow “We’re in protective service and we need to be proactive in the way that we look at these things … we looked and said this could never happen; well it did, and we did a heck of a job responding after the fact, and we were very proactive after a period of time, and I think that’s gotten a little bit lax and we need to stay on our toes, stay vigilant, and I think that’s one of the best ways to remember all those people sacrificed in these events, is to grow from them.” — Aaron Zamzow Additional resources Read more reflections, tips for processing and lessons for training to respond to MCIs in our 9/11 coverage, sponsored by Verizon. Learn more with these resources mentioned in this episode, as well as additional articles from Police1, FireRescue1 and EMS1: The Raytom Group – training law enforcement officers in EMS Policing Matters: BRINC's Blake Resnick and Don Redmond on evolving drone technology ‎Policing Matters: Jamie Hudson on how Elk Grove’s Real-Time Information Center gathers and shares information AI in action: Enhancing school security with ZeroEyes' gun detection system FEMA’s free ICS training Why all law enforcement officers should read the 9/11 Commission Report POV: ‘It is time to demand adherence to NIMS/ICS and accountability for failure to implement’ On-Demand Webinar: What Firefighters Want from Incident Commanders Are we communicating better after 9/11? Responding to an MCI of 9/11’s proportions, with today’s limitations Rate and review Catch a new episode of Inside EMS every Friday on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, PodBean, Amazon Music, Stitcher, Spotify, and RSS feed. Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. Contact the Inside EMS team at [email protected] to share ideas, suggestions and feedback, or if you’d like to join us as a guest.

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. “Tell me a time when you were stressed and how you dealt with it.” You’ve like heard, answered or asked a variation of that question in one or more interviews during your career. But how can interviewers get more from their questions? In this episode of Inside EMS, cohosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson discuss a recent article by Lexipol Editorial Director, Greg Friese, MS, NRP; “How to use ChatGPT for paramedic interviewing, selection.” In the article, Greg outlines how leaders can use Chat GPT to craft panel interview questions, and a sample prompt: I am interviewing applicants for a full-time job as a paramedic at a busy, private ambulance service that responds to 911 calls and interfacility transport requests. One component of the process is a panel interview with the operations supervisor, a field training officer and an experienced paramedic. Recommend five scenario-based questions the panel should ask each applicant. In this episode, Chris and Kelly put Greg’s prompt to the test and debate, should we be using AI in our daily work in EMS? Tune in to this episode Listen in as our hosts discuss: Other use cases for generative AI in EMS – from scenarios to deployment plans How AI is a potential resources – as well as a potential headache – for educators Takeaways from the recent 2023 NAEMSE Symposium Flattening the forgetting curve – retaining training And don’t miss a side debate: is there a case for prehospital ultrasound? Memorable quotes “When we think about interviewing, that’s when people really will put the dog on; they are giving us the very best of who they are and we are just getting answers to questions that may or may not be true, and we really have to try to decipher, but how do we challenge these people who are coming in?” — Chris Cebollero “Our dean walked into the office and said, ‘I need you all to start thinking about how we can use ChatGPT and generative AI to enhance and augment our paramedic program.” — Kelly Grayson “The better you are at writing prompts and giving it some specific direction, the better content it’s going to churn out for you.” — Kelly Grayson Let us know how you’re using AI in EMS: contact [email protected]. Rate and review Catch a new episode of Inside EMS every Friday on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, PodBean, Amazon Music, Stitcher, Spotify, and RSS feed. Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. Contact the Inside EMS team at [email protected] to share ideas, suggestions and feedback, or if you’d like to join us as a guest.

Get better every shift with stress management and leadership insights from Aaron Zamzow and Janelle Foskett This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. In this special episode of Inside EMS, Host Chris Cebollero welcomes the dynamic hosts of the Better Every Shift Podcast, Aaron Zamzow and Janelle Foskett. In Better Every Shift, Zamzow, a Madison (Wisconsin) firefighter; and Foskett, editor-in-chief of FireRescue1, spotlight the passion and perseverance of firefighters and EMS providers, as they dig into what drives responders to improve themselves, their crew, the service as a whole. Listen in to get better every day, every call, every shift. In this episode, they discuss: Getting out of your comfort zone The issues no one wants to talk about in the fire service (e.g., recruitment and sleep) Leadership and stress management Managing up The need for leadership training How a staffing crisis leads to a leadership crisis, that leads to a stress crisis – and the ramifications on health and wellness Foskett also shares insights from the FireRescue1 "What firefighters want in 2023 report," into firefighter stress. Foskett notes among respondents, 46% reported considering leaving their fire department – mostly due to staffing – and a staggering 42% of firefighters are considering leaving the fire service due to their stress levels. Memorable quotes “In order to be a better whatever – paramedic, firefighter, EMT, podcaster – you need to get out of your comfort zone.” — Aaron Zamzow “We’re really starving for leadership, but in the same breath, we’re looking in the maybe the wrong places, whereas we should be starting in the mirror and then looking out.” — Aaron Zamzow “People are craving leadership and when there is a lack of leadership, that doesn’t mean all is lost; you have options, you have solutions, and you can take ownership of that and be proactive.” — Janelle Foskett “There are some of those fire houses, they don’t turn a wheel in a 24 hour period; there are other ones that don’t get to see their beds in a 24 hour period. It’s one of the things that we now have to start to think about. We’re still running models for EMS and fire that we were running 40 years ago.” — Chris Cebollero Learn more Follow Better Every Shift on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcastsor wherever you listen to your podcasts Download the "What firefighters want in 2023 report" for more insights into staffing and stress relief Download the "What paramedics want in 2023 report" for insights into mitigating stress, staffing challenges and leadership shortfalls

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. In this episode, Chris and Kelly discuss the recent spotlight on public access defibrillation after high profile cardiac arrests in young athletes, as well as the growing danger of assaults in the field for EMTs. Together, they discuss: Bronny James, USC freshman and son of Lakers star LeBron James, was resuscitated after a cardiac arrest at USC basketball workout Julia Taylor Fatum, a N.Y. EMT, was stabbed and nearly killed by a patient in her ambulance The death of Lt. Alison Russo-Elling, who was stabbed multiple times The collapse of Damar Hamlin and the world watching his on-field resuscitation Has EMS taken a step backwards in training the public? How violence against providers is becoming a retention issue Memorable quotes “Children and athletes and young adults can go into cardiac arrest, and I would wager that the only thing that saved Bronny James’s life is that second link in the AHA chain of survival, which is prompt, early access to defibrillation, and it’s a shame that public access to defibrillation in so many places is still a pipe dream or poorly implemented such that it’s not really public access.” — Kelly Grayson “Public access to defibrillation means just that: public access to defibrillation. It’s not a special thing for special people to use. The whole point of public access to defibrillation is that it can be readily accessed by anyone.” — Kelly Grayson “As an EMS leader … that has to be first and foremost concern of mine: to make sure that the workforce goes home at the end of their shift. And I’m losing faith in that we are keeping our providers safe.” — Chris Cebollero “We’ve been on calls that have been very benign, that have escalated verbally, that have escalated behaviorally.” — Kelly Grayson “Keep your heads on a swivel. Always be alert, always have your eye on your patient.” — Kelly Grayson Learn more Damar Hamlin: A pass or fail exam for the EMS profession Confronting sudden cardiac arrest in America Training Day: Train citizens to use an AED Protecting EMS providers from violence Leadership’s role in keeping our workforce safe Improving scene safety with technology

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. In this episode of Inside EMS, Cohosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson dive into critical thinking. They point out the need to teach EMT students how to make the leap from linear to critical thinking, and the key critical thinking skills needed to make decisions: Being curious: Asking the question why Reasoning Self-awareness Memorable quotes from this episode “Critical thinking is all about the discipline of being able to take in information to experience what’s happening, to have a good observation of what’s happening and to reason and make the best decisions that we can.” “I think one of the hallmarks of intelligence is intellectual curiosity.” “This is a missing component of critical thinking. Just because we’ve gotten some information doesn’t mean that information is acted on without good analysis.” “When you can divorce yourself emotionally from the information that you’re processing, it makes it much easier to analyze.” Together, they discuss: Linear thinking vs. critical thinking Taking emotions out of thinking Emotional intelligence Falling victim to confirmation bias

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. After 30 years in EMS in Louisiana, the past 15 as a critical care paramedic, Kelly Grayson is leaving the Bayou state – and the rig – for a full-time paramedic educator role in New York. Kelly will begin his position as the lead instructor as the lead instructor for the new CoAEMSP-accredited paramedic program at Clarkson University in Pottstown, New York, in August. Chris and Kelly discuss what motivated Kelly to make this leap, and what happens when you change jobs and have to prepare for the next chapter. Memorable quotes from this episode “I can render no higher praise for an EMS agency than to say they let me do my job without handcuffs.” “When we lose a longtime member of the workforce – it hurts – and I hate to be the one to do that.” “You never want to burn a bridge. Even if you hate the place you work, you never know that you may have to go back to them one day and say, you know, ‘are you looking for any help?’” “If I make a commitment to a place, I’ll follow their rules, cheerfully.” “Make yourself valuable to prospective employers. If you’re not happy where you are, you can make a good living at EMS, you can have career satisfaction in EMS. You might not be able to have those things at the place you are currently.” “It’s an employee’s market right now.” “Vote with your feet.” Together, they discuss: When it’s time to make a career change The skills you need when you come off the truck Shifting the paradigm in EMS education Developing and standing up a new paramedic program Bringing affordable EMS education to rural communities How to leave a position without burning bridges

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. “My first reaction was, what the hell. My second reaction was, well, I guess if there’s not going to be any participation agreement, then we’re not bound by confidentiality anymore, and I’ll just email the Booz Allen presentation to every member of Congress, and say, ‘here’s the savings to the Medicare program, please pass the TIP and TAD language. And I honestly think we should do that, and we probably will.” — Matt Zavadsky In this crossover episode of Inside EMS and EMS One-Stop, Matt Zavadsky, MS-HSA, EMT, chief transformation officer at MedStar Mobile Healthcare (an ET3 participant), joins cohosts Chris Cebollero and Rob Lawrence to discuss the recently announced end of the ET3 program. Top quotes from this episode “That must be a mistake … I was just dumbfounded, absolutely dumbfounded.” — Matt Zavadsky “We can’t stop this – we’ve got to continue to move this along somehow and ensure that we’re still doing the things we need to do for our patients.” — Chris Cebollero “Continue to do what you do while we try to sort out this mess, because we thought we were on the right route, and then someone’s now put out a roadblock, so we have to work out how to detour or indeed knock it down. Keep up the good work while we try to work out how to get around this.” — Rob Lawrence “We as a profession cannot let this be the final word.” — Matt Zavadsky In addition to why CMS didn’t see the savings they were anticipating, and the hoops agencies had to jump through to participate in the ET3 program, the group focuses on what’s next for reimbursement reform. Together, they discuss: How the national associations (NAEMT, AAA, IAFC, IAFF) are working to get legislation introduced in Congress to get treatment in place and transport to alternate destinations (TIP and TAD) covered The need for data from organizations that participated in the ET3 model that proves the cost savings Admittance avoidance vs. arrival avoidance at the ED Turning frustration with Medicare into action Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. Contact the Inside EMS team at [email protected] to share ideas, suggestions and feedback, or if you’d like to join us as a guest.

Steve Grau, Anna Liotta and Steve Wirth join hosts Rob Lawrence and Chris Cebollero at the American Ambulance Association Annual Conference 2023 This episode of EMS One-Stop With Rob Lawrence is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. In this EMS One-Stop/Inside EMS crossover podcast, Chris Cebollero teams up with Rob Lawrence to report on the 2023 American Ambulance Association Annual Conference from the MGM Grand, in Las Vegas. Rob and Chris discuss their own personal highlights and Rob’s leadership session, delivered with Acadian Ambulance President, Justin Back. Rob and Chris are joined by Page, Wolfberg & Wirth Founding Partner, Steve Wirth, Esq., and discuss bias, the topic of Steve’s conference session. Rob then interviews AAA keynote speaker, Anna Liotta, together with Royal Ambulance President Steve Grau, as they discuss: Generational codes in the workforce The revolving door of employment Creating the milestones of forward progression Understanding that your people are you primary customer TOP QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE “In dealing with bias, self-awareness is absolutely critical – you have to do an inventory of your life and say ‘where are these things that I’ve experienced and how do they affect my decision making today and my interaction with other people,’ so self-awareness is really the first step.” — Steve Wirth “When you go to a conference, go up to somebody. The reason that you have a nametag, with your first name in very large font is so that I can say, ‘Hello Chris, I’m Rob, pleased to meet you. What do you do?’ and that’s how a network occurs.” — Rob Lawrence “Having this culture of a high-level of engagement is really focusing on our employees as our primary customer and making sure that we understand what their goals, ideals, passions are, and how to meet them.” — Steve Grau “Just by the way they answered a simple question ‘so, what do you do?’ I could tell if they had been working there 2-3 weeks if they answer with a bright sparkle, ‘I work at Amazon.’ But if they had been there 2-3 months, they would pause, ‘well … I work at Amazon,’ And 6 months, they would drop a codeword, ‘I currently work at Amazon.’” — Anna Liotta -- Watch for more https://www.ems1.com/leadership/articles/the-10-commandments-of-servant-leadership-OkBq610vz8C12Gb1/ -- EPISODE CONTENTS Part 1: Rob Lawrence and Chris Cebollero – Serving to lead 00:30 – Rob and Chris introduction 1:30 – Car seat safety (not rated for ambulances) 3:30 – Rob’s leadership session with Acadian President Justin Back on the principles of leadership, serving to lead 05:30 – Chris discusses leadership as a science 06:30 – What we want from our leaders Part 2: Steve Wirth – Overcoming bias 07:30 – Welcome Steve Wirth 08:00 – Steve discusses his conference session, “We are all prejudiced” delivered in partnership with Macara Trusty (GMR) 11:30 – The importance of networking and meeting professional friends 14:56 – Chris talks about his leadership series on EMS1 Part 3: Anna Liotta and Steve Grau – Retaining your primary customer 16:00 – Introduction: Anna and Steve 17:00 – Generational difference - Have you seen a “Star Wars” movie? 17:30 – Anna: Common sense is not that common 18:30 – The Royal Ambulance (award winning) Career Bridge Program 20:00 – Generational codes in the workforce 22:50 – The revolving door of employment 24:00 – Creating the milestones of forward progression 25:00 – Anna’s Experience with Fortune 500 companies 25:30 – Understanding that your talent and people are your primary customer 26:00 – Creating an arc of experience 28:00 – Not allowing yourself to say “that’s how I did it” 29:00 – Fostering the whole human 30:00 – Pulling talent forward 31:00 – Rob and Chris close ABOUT OUR GUESTS Anna Liotta Anna Liotta, creator of Generationally Savvy Communication Solutions, is an award-winning speaker, business consultant and author. She engages audiences with her practical strategies for attracting, growing and retaining top talent and loyal clients from every generation. Anna integrates communications, sociology, business psychology and demography to unify workplaces and dramatically improve company performance. Her expertise and insight have helped such companies as Pike Place Market, Intel, Wells Fargo, Microsoft, Amazon, the PGA, NBA and United Way. Steve Grau Steve Grau and his family emigrated from Ukraine in 1989, arriving in San Francisco with $80 to their name. He became interested in healthcare 15 years later, when he took a hands-on role caring for his grandfather after a series of debilitating strokes. Witnessing how emotional support impacted physical healing, Steve was inspired to leave the tech industry to start an ambulance service that focused on patient experience. Steve Wirth Steve Wirth is a founding partner of Page, Wolfberg & Wirth. In a distinguished four-deca

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. In this episode of Inside EMS, our cohosts and best-selling authors put our listeners on the path to becoming authors. Top quotes from this episode “Everybody has a book title in them and we’re going to put everybody on the path of becoming authors.” “I have an idea of where I want the story to go, but how the characters interact, how they talk, the adventures and trials and tribulations they go through, develop as the story goes along.” “When I'm at my best, the writing just flows, and I'm just typing away and I'm giggling or crying, as the case may be, and enjoying the hell out of it.” “The days that it doesn't flow like a waterfall is where it takes some work ethic and some discipline, and you have to get the story on the page no matter how bad you think it is, and then find your muse and find the spark in it in the editing process.” Together, Chris and Kelly discuss: How writing can be therapeutic Kelly’s latest short stories, “They call me Tully”, “Cecil the Combat Wombat,” and “The battle of Waffle Haus 814” Chris’ top 10 tips for success in “Ultimate leadership” Writing process: how Kelly gets through the tough days and Chris’s unique approach, that isn’t writing at all Additional resources How to submit an article to EMS1 5 alternatives to journaling if you don't like to write Getting published in EMS How writing may have saved my EMS career Send your book titles to [email protected]

In this episode of Inside EMS, our Cohosts, Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson, break down the skills needed to be a servant leader. Notable quotes from this episode “My job as a leader is to get work done through other people.” “The true measurement of leadership success is how engaged, satisfied and productive the workforce is.” “What I believe as a leader is that my job as the chief of the department is not any more important than your job of working on the ambulance. It’s that we have different roles and responsibilities for reaching the vision.” “The most important component of servant leadership is realizing that it’s an honor for you to be in the position that you’re in and you can get taken out of that position as fast as you were put into it.” Together, they discuss: Chris’s recent article and video on servant leadership Reversing the organization chart Practicing responsibility upward The skills a servant leader should bring to the table Enjoying the show? Contact the Inside EMS team at [email protected] to share ideas, suggestions and feedback, or if you’d like to join us as a guest.

In this week's episode of Inside EMS, Cohosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson lean on their experience as field training officers and EMT instructors to discuss EMS skills mastery. If our message to new EMT graduates is, “You don’t know everything there is to know about EMS,” then how do we teach them what they need to know in the field? Top quotes from this episode “It’s not laziness; it’s cognitive offloading.” “If I’m not using it, why am I teaching it?” “Is the way you intubate today the way you intubated when you started in EMS?” “There is nothing that substitutes for constant repetition and practice.” Contact the Inside EMS team at [email protected] to share ideas, suggestions and feedback, or if you’d like to join us as a guest.

In this week's episode of Inside EMS, Cohosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson share their messages on professionalism, career development and asking questions with the graduating classes of EMTs. Memorable quotes from this episode “You don’t know everything there is to know about EMS – so you need to be able to ask the question why.” “EMS is a very egotistical business – it’s the egotism that prevents us from asking why” “You have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable … you have to challenge yourself; you have to reach.” “We train people to be decisive in their actions and their throughs and to think fast – what we don’t always teach them is that the wisdom of EMS has to come with some years behind you and you have to develop some introspection.” “People are using [EMS] to get to the fire department, people are using it to get to medical school, people are using It to get to nursing, and that’s great – but don’t waste your time while you’re here …. That has to start with professional development.” Together, they discuss: Choosing your hard How to guide and motivate the next generation of EMS provider How EMT classes graduate two kinds of people (and why it’s a good sign if you’re terrified) Looking ahead and developing the goals you need to advance as an EMS leader Learning from your mistakes The value of teachable moments An exercise in assessing your skills mastery Is EMS a career or a stepping stone? Additional resources on career mastery and growth Achieving EMS mastery How to maximize clinical expertise through everyday experiences Cultivate a ‘beginner’s mind’ for ongoing growth 5 ingredients for psychomotor mastery

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. In this EMS Week episode of Inside EMS, Cohosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson welcome Brian K. Hathaway, president/CEO of Spirit EMS, in Greenville, Ohio, who offers a free EMT training program. Hathaway shares his perspective on how EMS education has changed, and the creative ways Spirit is attracting, engaging and retaining recruits – from 2-year agreements, to giving away a car during training. Together, they discuss: Why Hathaway is the Oprah Winfrey of EMT education How to engage and motivate the workforce What Hathaway is looking for when he evaluates student patient assessments How we deliver education to the newer generation Memorable quotes from this episode “As we educate in the classroom and make sure that people are comfortable and confident in their skills, and we’re making sure that we’re doing that good head-to-toe assessment on the patients – that that’s the ultimate important thing.” “Memorizing 43 things on a skills sheet to make sure that we’ve touched everything is not necessarily applicable to every patient that we’re taking care of.” “My concern is we’ve got to get people involved and we’ve got to continue to change with the times or it’s going to be a competition when I’m in the nursing home 25-30 years from now as to who’s going to get out of bed and respond to the call if we don’t do something now.” Additional resources What skills should we test? A simple framework for an EMT skills competency portfolio Whatever will we do without the skill sheets? NREMT is discontinuing the ALS psychomotor exam. That’s a good thing, if you let it be About our Guest Brian K. Hathaway is president/CEO of Spirit EMS, in Greenville, Ohio. Brian has been actively involved in Fire/EMS since 1996. Aside from his duties as an owner of Spirit, Brian is a 27-year veteran of the Union City Fire Department and continues to work part-time as a 911 dispatcher at the Darke County Sheriff's Office where he has worked since 1999. Brian is a certified Advanced EMT, EMS continuing education instructor, volunteer firefighter, Certified Ambulance Coder, Certified Ambulance Compliance Officer and Certified Emergency Medical Dispatcher. Brian serves as education chairman and is a board member of the Ohio Ambulance and Medical Transportation Association, a member of the Four County Career Center advisory board, a member of the Darke County Chamber of Commerce, and attends the EUM Church in Greenville. Brian enjoys spending time with his wife Audrey as well as their daughter Naomi.

Educating the public about when it is appropriate to call EMS – and how quickly we should get there This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. In this EMS Week episode of Inside EMS, Cohosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson dive into where emergency care begins, and how community paramedicine launched a paradigm shift years in the making. They discuss how EMS did a fine job of educating the community about the obstacles and dangers of the job during COVID-19, but need to capitalize on and maintain that momentum moving forward. Memorable quotes from this episode: “Community paramedicine has everything to do with EMS week.” “Advocacy is what this is all about, and we as a profession have kind of fallen down on the job for quite a while on educating the public about the capabilities of EMS, and the obstacles and hardships that we face, and that’s what EMS Week is all about.” “We need to leverage our advocacy and teach the real first responders, the public, about what’s appropriate to call EMS for and what they can do to crowdsource that urgent care.” Chris and Kelly discuss: How emergency care begins at dispatch and nurse triage of 911 ET3 and the telehealth model Kelly’s experience with treatment-in-place and alternate destinations Response time standards Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. Contact the Inside EMS team at [email protected] to share ideas, suggestions and feedback, or if you’d like to join us as a guest.

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. In this episode of Inside EMS, Kelly Grayson rejoins Cohost Chris Cebollero to discuss his recent medical scare and to celebrate 10 years of Inside EMS. Kelly recently suffered a massive pulmonary embolus, which severely compromised blood flow to nearly 100% of both his lungs. Though he admits delaying care was not the brightest decision at the time, he now knows how close he came to losing his life, and is committed to taking his health seriously – both mental and physical. Notable quotes from this episode “Be good patients and don’t be stupid. We are the world’s worst at taking care of ourselves.” “It slapped me upside the face on April 14 that it’s time to start walking the walk about your own health.“ “Even if you have the capacity to rationalize, and the capacity to be clinically analytic during your own medical emergency, ultimately, all it’s going to do is give you piece of mind when you die that you knew what killed you.” Read more about Kelly’s medical scare: ‘Is this what dying feels like?’ A wake-up call and a plea: Don’t be stubborn about your health After the wakeup call: First steps of a wellness journey “The problem with people testing their limits is that they often find them.”

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. In this episode of Inside EMS, Host Chris Cebollero is joined by Firefighter/Paramedic Steve Whitehead, NREMT-P, and scholar-practitioner Nick Nudell, PhD(c). Real-life friends, Whitehead and Nudell bring forth an EMS debate in which they find themselves on opposite sides: the importance of reporting mechanism of injury. In paramedic school, they teach us to take what we see at the scene and bring that into the hospital – to take photos, describe the damage to the vehicle, etc., Chris notes. But, does it matter? Chris listens to their perspectives as they state their case, and then makes his decision. Listen in and let us know your thoughts: is reporting mechanism of injury important? Memorable quotes from this episode “This is one of the few things in EMS in which we need to own. Because if we make a mistake and we evaluate the mechanism of injury wrong, no one else can fix that for us.” — Steve Whitehead “For all except the most unusual mechanisms of injury, the photo is likely worthless.” — Steve Whitehead “The critical things that the trauma surgeons are really trying to get at in that moment when the patient arrives is – is their airway patent, are they breathing, is their blood circulating – they are going to the ABCs, just like we do.” — Nick Nudell ABOUT OUR GUESTS Steve Whitehead Steve Whitehead, NREMT-P, is an EMS instructor with the South Metro Fire Rescue Authority in Lone Tree, Colorado, and the creator of the blog The EMT Spot. He is a primary instructor for South Metro's EMT program and a lifelong student of emergency medicine. Reach him through his blog at [email protected]. Nick Nudell Scholar-practitioner Nick Nudell, PhD(c), is the manager of trauma research services for UCHealth, in Loveland, Colorado; and the president of the American Paramedic Association. He has more than 24 years of data science, public policy and paramedicine experience at all levels, including as a hospital and ambulance-based clinician, educator, consultant, regulator, program manager, executive and researcher. His research interests include innovative governance models and improving health system design to reduce systemic healthcare disparities through mixed methods research concentrated on system design and implementation. He is an advocate for social justice and health equity, interested in discovering the most appropriate resources to provide for a person's needs, in suitable locations, at the right time. Additionally, through his clinical practice, he has gained significant real-world field and academic experience with behavioral health and substance use disorders that contribute to his health equity and social justice scholarship.

Jon Lee joins the podcast to discuss following the evidence and pharmacology research insights This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. In this episode, one of Chris Cebollero’s favorite authors, Jonathan Lee, joins Chris for a discussion of his most recent article, a research analysis examining the benefits of midazolam vs. morphine. While morphine is the go-to drug when it comes to cardiac events, once you look at the research, there are some red flags, Lee notes. Lee’s analysis focused on The in-hospital mortality had no significant difference between midazolam versus morphine The frequency of serious adverse events in using morphine versus Listen in to the discussion. Resources mentioned in this episode Jonathan Lee: Front-line pharm KinderMedic Research analysis: Midazolam vs. morphine About our guest Jonathan Lee is a critical care paramedic with Ornge in Toronto, Canada, with over 25 years of experience in 911, critical care, aeromedical and pediatric critical care transport. Jonathan’s teaching experience includes classroom, clinical and field education as well as curriculum development and design across a number of health professions. He is currently delivering KinderMedic, a program he developed to improve the confidence and competence of prehospital providers caring for acutely ill children. In addition to his clinical practice, he is also adjunct faculty in the Paramedic Program at Georgian College. Jonathan is a freelance author and has been invited to speak across North America and Europe on topics such as pediatrics, analgesia and stress. Jonathan has previously served on committees for professional organizations including the Ontario Paramedic Association and NAEMT. He is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Critical Care from Cardiff University. Jonathan can be contacted via Twitter and LinkedIn. Rate and review Inside EMS Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. Contact the Inside EMS team at [email protected] to share ideas, suggestions and feedback, or if you’d like to join us as a guest. Catch a new episode every Friday on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, PodBean, Amazon Music, Stitcher, Spotify, and RSS feed.

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. In this episode of Inside EMS, cohost Chris Cebollero reflects on his time in the military and the privilege of serving in the military’s Honor Guard. Chris explains the significance of the 13 folds of the American flag and the honor felt in folding the flag that would be given to a family member of a fallen servicemember. Chris is joined by Folds of Honor’s Senior Vice President of Outreach, Luke Sherman. Sherman is a past chairman and now senior member with the Board of Directors for the National Tactical Officers Association; a 29 year veteran of the Tulsa Police Department; and owner and principal with Aegis CPG, a Tulsa-based security consulting company. Sherman shares how the Folds of Honor scholarship program will now benefit first responders, including paramedics and EMTS. Lt. Col. Dan Rooney started Folds of Honor after his second tour of duty in Iraq. As a fighter pilot in the Oklahoma Air National Guard, he became painfully aware of the realities families face when a loved one in uniform is fallen or disabled. On his return flight home, the pilot announced the plane carried the remains of Corporal Brock Bucklin on board. Lt. Col. Rooney watched as Corporal Bucklin’s twin brother walked somberly alongside the flag-covered casket to meet his family on the tarmac. Lt. Col. Rooney committed to meeting sacrifice with hope through Folds of Honor, providing life-changing scholarships to the spouses and children of America’s fallen or disabled servicemembers. Folds of honor has awarded more than 44,000 educational scholarships totalling about $200M since 2007 And now, the mission expands to the families of America’s first responders. Additional resources Learn more about supporting Folds of Honor’s mission to help fund educational opportunities for military and first responder families, or to apply for a scholarship at FoldsOfHonor.org.

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. According to Bureau of Labor statistics, for healthcare workers, assault is the most common source of nonfatal injury or illness requiring time off of work. In this episode of Inside EMS, Host Chris Cebollero is joined by Jason Brooks, BAS, EMT-P, I/C, to discuss the rising frequency of assaults against EMS providers. Brooks owns and operates DT4EMS, LLC, providing defensive tactics for escaping, mitigating and surviving violent attacks. He has been in the EMS profession for over 25 years, serving as a firefighter, paramedic, paramedic educator and EMS administrator. He has spent nearly a decade studying the issue of violence in healthcare. Together, they discuss: Personal defense and de-escalation training When to de-escalate domestic violence cases What to do when verbal de-escalation fails 4 rules of physicial and mental defense When to leave the scene Notable quotes from Jason Brooks If you’re being threatened, you need to make the decision, “is this safe for me to stay here?” “It's not patient abandonment to leave a scene that's unsafe.” “There's no law out there that says that you have to sit there and be abused, be assaulted, etc. If it's unsafe, we need to know that care can end.” “If it gets to the point where it's escalated so quickly, if you have to leave equipment behind for your safety, leave it.” Additional resources Special coverage: Protecting EMS providers from violence Preventing violence against EMS personnel Research Analysis: Preventing downstream consequences of EMS assaults Rate and review the Inside EMS podcast Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. Contact the Inside EMS team at [email protected] to share ideas, suggestions and feedback, or if you’d like to join us as a guest.

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. In this episode of Inside EMS, host Kelly Grayson welcomes Nancy Magee, volunteer EMS consultant, and Rom Duckworth, fire captain and paramedic EMS coordinator for the Ridgefield (Connecticut) Fire Department and the founder of the New England Center for Rescue and Emergency Medicine. As a NAEMT board member, Rom recently attended the EMS advocacy event, EMS on the Hill, along with Nancy, who attended to represent the interests of rural EMS providers. Rom shared, “Bottom line, the experience was great, some parts a little frustrating, but I feel like we were fighting the good fight overall and it was a learning experience for me and I think an eye opening experience for a lot of the other people who were down there trying to fight for a little bit more money, a little bit more protection and a little bit more rights for EMS providers.” Nancy and Rom recount their experiences and what they learned in Washington, including: What the representatives asked of legislators Why it’s important to be specific in grant funding The elephant in the room (hint, it’s fee-for-service) Where the money goes Connect with us Email [email protected] to share your feedback! Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts.

While EMS is uniquely rewarding, it is also uniquely challenging, with physical, mental and emotional impacts. During the inaugural First Responder Wellness Week, our dynamic duo, Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson, hosted a special live edition of Inside EMS. In this edition, our cohosts, joined by EMS One-Stop podcast host Rob Lawrence, welcome Global Medical Response's Ed Racht, MD; and Rhonda Kelly, who manage one of, if not the biggest EMS wellness programs in existence. Listen in to learn how wellness programs are essential to creating resilient responders, and what's working to support members' health, emotional wellness and coping strategies for career longevity. WHAT ATTENDEES LIKED FROM THIS PRESENTATION "Great ideas and options to assist providers when they need help and to encourage them to ask for help." "Good practical ideas to implement." "It was very informative on information that we as an industry are using to move ahead with responder wellness."

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. As we lead up to Lexipol’s First Responder Wellness Week, this week’s cohosts Rob Lawrence and Kelly Grayson learn about the work of two important EMS and public safety charitable organizations – EMS Gives Life, with Executive Director, Christine Fiechter, and the Code Green campaign with Treasurer and Board Member RJ Morrison. Top quotes from this episode “Who knew you could donate a portion of your liver – many of us don’t and that portion of your liver you donate grows back in full size and functionality in a short period of time.” —Christine Fiechter “This is a community that has a very hard time asking for help. They don’t want to ask for help, they want to sit silently; they are used to being the helper, it’s very awkward to ask for someone to donate a kidney.” — Christine Fiechter “We bring to your attention the names of people that have passed through suicide or have passed through medical or accidents, etc., but we never talk about the people that didn’t – what about the people that did go and get help, that did reach out, that did ask for support, and we don’t read their name, because they were successful.” — RJ Morrison discussing the Code Green “Names not read” tag line “No one knew how many of our brethren took their own lives unless someone reported it, or said so in an obituary, and we still don’t know how many died in accidents because they were depressed or suffering from PTSD. It’s hard to do good work if you don’t have the statistics and the [FBHA Register] is a crucial initiative.” — Kelly Grayson Rate and review the Inside EMS podcast Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. Contact the Inside EMS team at [email protected] to share ideas, suggestions and feedback, or if you’d like to join us as a guest.

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. If you’ve seen his videos, you’ve likely said to yourself, “been there, done that.” In this episode of Inside EMS, cohost Kelly Grayson and guest cohost Rob Lawrence welcome Firefighter-influencer Jason Patton to the show. Patton, famous for Fire Department Chronicles and Fire Department Coffee, offers a caffeine-fueled glimpse at how he got started in producing videos that have garnered him over 5 million followers. Listen in as they discuss: The power of social media The “can’t make this stuff up” calls we’ve all been to that produce fodder for his videos Patton’s tips for sharing your own message with the masses, including an outside-of-the-box suggestion for why mistakes are a good thing Don’t miss: “The world, especially our world, needs humor.” Patton’s approach to tough topics What he did to get a cease-and-desist letter from National Geographic

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. In the 10-year anniversary episode of the Inside EMS podcast, Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson discuss the shortage of EMTs, the imperfections of the onboarding process, and the importance of having good leaders in demanding jobs. Join Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson as they celebrate 10 years of the Inside EMS podcast by taking a hard look at the desperate search for more EMTs. With more EMS professionals nationally registered now than ever before, the duo dissects why those statistics don’t match up with the number of EMTs currently working. Our hosts take a close look at EMS leaders and their impact on new EMTs. Plus, they cover specific ways that we can improve the onboarding process to better prepare EMS professionals, and how the sink or swim method is harming new EMTs. LISTEN IN WHILE WE DISCUSS: The lack of preparation in onboarding new EMTs. Is there really a shortage in EMS? Why is it so important to pair new EMTs with good mentors? The negative impact of hazing in EMS. How to take care of yourself while maintaining a successful EMS career. CAN’T-MISS MOMENTS “What we have is a shortage of people who are willing to work under horrible conditions for chump change and be unappreciated.” “We spend an inordinate amount of time recruiting adrenaline junkies and trying to teach them to be hand holders when we should be recruiting hand holders and teaching them how to function in a crisis.” “We need to teach new EMTs to keep that soft chewy center and retain that compassion for as long as they possibly can.” Resources mentioned on the show Article: “Top 10 Ways to Ruin a Good EMT” written by Kelly Grayson Book: “Ultimate Leadership: 10 Rules for Success” written by Chris Cebollero Connect with us Listen to this episode of the Inside EMS podcast and look out for new episodes every Friday Contact us at [email protected] Review the show on Apple Podcasts and leave us some feedback

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. Host Kelly Grayson gets vulnerable on the podcast, as he shares his experiences with PTSD, resiliency and how best to deal with hidden emotions. Asked to be a guest author in a recent anthology on coping with traumatic stress, Kelly's contributed chapter in "But Not Broken" focused on a particular call that caused him to struggle for years and how he worked through it. Our co-hosts also explore how the act of writiung or journaling can have therapeutic benefits for first responders who are grappling with traumatic stress, as Kelly shares his tips for dealing with feelings through the written word. "Any of us can suffer from PTSD ... and as the saying goes, it's not what's wrong with you, it's what's happened to you," Kelly says. Have an idea for an episode? Send an email to [email protected].

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. Inside EMS hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson open this week's episode with the news of the death of Paramedic Pete Reed, a former Marine who was recently killed in Ukraine when his ambulance was shelled by Russian forces as he was helping to evacuate civilians out of the city of Bakhmut. "I have tremendous respect for those who don't have a legal requirement to render aid but give of themselves, and in this case, Pete Reed paid the ultimate sacrifice," says Grayson. Our co-hosts also discuss a county in New York that is offering a 10% property tax exemption for volunteer providers and firefighters, as well as the sentencing details for a man who stabbed an on-duty EMS captain. "We see a lot of our peers who are getting assaulted and getting hurt on the job. Where is the justice for those people?" asks Chris Cebollero. Listen to the latest episode and subscribe to get next week's episode automatically in your feed. Top quotes "Ten years from now, this work that you do still shows up on your work history and what will it say about you as you go forward and you go on to the next phase in your career?" — Chris Cebollero "That's why we have this podcast. This is something we do to extend our advocacy and our passion for our profession beyond the guy in the other seat in the truck and beyond the classroom. It's a way to leave our mark and leave our profession a little better than we found it by spreading the message and getting advocacy out there to a broader range of people." — Kelly Grayson

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. This special episode of Inside EMS is a crossover post from FireRescue1's new Better Every Shift Podcast. Hosted by Madison (Wisconsin) Firefighter Aaron Zamzow and FireRescue1 Editor-in-Chief Janelle Foskett, the show brings kitchen table conversations to the airwaves, always focused on solutions, positivity and the realities of station life. Follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcasts. This episode of the Better Every Shift podcast is extra super because Zam and Janelle are talking all things Super Bowl with Glendale (Arizona) Captain Ashley Losch, digging into the fire and EMS preparations, training and coordination for this year’s big game. Captain Losch details the many moving parts of “Super Season,” what they’ve learned from the past two Super Bowls the city has hosted, plus how the Damar Hamlin incident prompted additional questions. Plus, we get into all this: The big messaging change for this year Maintaining citywide staffing during the big game The tabletop exercise that had 150 agencies represented What else … Hot seat sneak peek: Best Super Bowl halftime shows of all time Don’t miss: How the super-wealthy deal with Super Bowl travel Episode power quote: “It’s about connection, it’s about coming together for a common goal, making sure that people are safe, making sure that everyone has a good time, everyone goes home with good memories, and the sheer amount of people that are coming together to make sure that happens is really incredible.” Resources we mentioned on the show Glendale Fire on Instagram Connect with us! Email [email protected] to share your feedback, and if you enjoy the show, take a moment to rate and review Better Every Shift on Apple Podcasts.

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. This week, Inside EMS host Chris Cebollero is joined by Chief Gary Ludwig to discuss killing of Tyre Nichols, which led to the firing of five Memphis police officers and three members of the Memphis Fire Department. Ludwig previously served as the deputy chief of the department for 10 years, running their EMS program. Chief Ludwig discusses professionalism, how a “normalization of deviance” may account for the lack of concern for bad behavior, and leadership’s role in keeping our workforce safe. The pair round out the episode by discussing whether it’s time for EMS to start wearing body cameras during patient care or at other times during a call. Top takeaways “The cameras are rolling and people know the cameras are rolling and this is still the behavior.” — Chris Cebollero “We behave on these cameras inappropriately, and nothing happens to us. You go on the next call, there’s cameras there – body cams, security cameras, Ring doorbells – there’s cameras everywhere. We behave inappropriately and there’s no consequences, even though it was captured on camera, so it becomes normalized.” — Chief Ludwig

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. As the industry waits for more details in the case involving two Illinois EMTs charged with murder in the death of a patient, cohosts Kelly Grayson and Chris Cebollero discuss the lack of compassion show by the providers and the scourge of apathy that plagues EMS. The conversation explores how EMS leaders can help keep industry personnel on a more professional path. Top takeaways "Members of the workforce will stay for low pay if they are treated well, or good pay if they are not treated well, but they won’t stay for both.” — Kelly Grayson "We must define our own professionalism, and every call we go on now has the opportunity to become a national news event. It is not 'if' but 'when.'" — Chris Cebollero Additional resources Malpractice or murder: When do EMS providers cross the line from negligence to a crime? Video: Is deeply disturbing patient care murder? Listen: 'How does this happen?' – Wolfberg and Wirth weigh in on EMT murder charges You've seen the video; now what? 14 action steps for EMS leaders to root out bad behavior You’ve seen the footage – Now what? Part 2: 15 steps for providers to compassionate care Prone positioning: Therapy or apathy?

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. In this episode of Inside EMS, Host Chris Cebollero discusses goal setting for a successful 2023. Chris breaks down the top 5 golden rules for making your goals and resolutions a reality. Chris notes, “success does not happen by chance, you have to create the opportunities that will create your success.” Listen for more on: Developing a motivating value statement Using the SMART method of developing goals The importance of developing an action plan Ensuring you are sticking to the plan you developed This is a great show to outline a blueprint for your success in 2023.

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. In the first episode of the 10th year in EMS, Cohost Chris Cebollero is joined by the legal powerhouse of Page, Wolfberg & Wirth’s EMS Attorneys Doug Wolfberg, Esq.; and Steve Wirth, Esq. to discuss the case everyone is talking about. An Illinois prosecutor has filed virtually unprecedented first-degree murder charges against two EMS providers over the death of a patient in their care. Wolfberg and Wirth broke down the points of the case and the lessons for EMS in an EMS1 article, "Malpractice or murder: When do EMS providers cross the line from negligence to a crime?" In this episode, Wolfberg and Wirth share their first impressions of the case and the body camera footage of the incident. Wolfberg noted what hit him was the “callous, cold, very detached, aggressive demeanor of the providers.” “You get into EMS because you care for people – how do you get to the point to what we saw in the video – that’s really where I keep coming back to,” Wolfberg said. Wirth added, “it wasn’t until I looked at the video that I felt outraged – outraged is the word that comes to my mind – how could a human being deal with another human being in this fashion – basically treat another human being as an inanimate object.” He asked, “how does this happen … because we can’t allow this to happen; we can’t.” Are first-degree murder charges warranted in this case? See how EMS1 listeners are weighing in.

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. Our co-hosts bid farewell to 2022 by counting down the most talked about and debated stories from this year's slate of Inside EMS episodes. Join Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson as they discuss EMS-police relations, patients' gender identity requests, legal conundrums and more. Related resources Check out the stories referenced in our episode: Video: N.Y. officer on desk duty after handcuffing EMT in hospital 2 medics' credentials suspended after Texas patient dies in transport Mother's lawsuit: 23-year-old dies in ED area after Conn. hospital ignores him for 7 hours 2 Mich. firefighters suspended over delayed response to EMS call Air ambulance pilot refused to fly in dangerous conditions; feds say company retaliated

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. This week, Cohost Kelly Grayson is joined by guest Host Greg Friese, MS, NRP, editorial director for Lexipol, and the pair discuss the traits of a great EMS book. Grayson and Friese, both fans of the genre of EMS literature, discuss the importance of clinical accuracy, a narrative arc that connects the patient responses, and author point of view. They also dive into whether the EMT or paramedic author needs to both experience and convey personal transformation through the narrative. Listen closely as Grayson and Friese shout out some of their favorite EMS authors and books. What's your favorite book by an EMT or paramedic? How did that book influence your education and career in EMS? Listen to the full conversation and add your comments on the topic below. Kelly Grayson is the author of "Perspectives, Volume I: An Emergency Medicine and Public Safety Anthology", and the follow-up, Perspectives, Volume 2.

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. This week cohost Kelly Grayson is joined by guest host Greg Friese, editorial director for Lexipol, and the pair discuss a Canadian research study on the diversity of CPR manikins used in instructive social media posts within North and South America. During a two year period, researchers found that fewer than 10% of the more than 200 manikin images used in social media instructional posts represented Black or Asian patients, while fewer than 2% represented overweight individuals. “I kind of rolled my eyes at the study itself, but it does speak to a larger issue,” Grayson said. “No CPR manikin looks like me; none of them have legs and they all have at least one less chin than I do, but [this research] does speak to a larger issue in EMS, and society as a whole, about diversity and inclusivity in our profession.” What do you think about the study? Listen to the full conversation and add your comments on the topic below. Additional resources for EMS education The 'hidden curriculum' in EMS education: Teaching the good, the bad and the ugly Teaching differential diagnosis How to recognize lazy students, bad instructors

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. Our Inside EMS cohosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson are joined by guest Major Chris Lokits from Louisville Metro EMS (LMEMS) to discuss paramedic intubations in the field. LMEMS is part of the Prehospital Airway Control Trial (PACT), a four-year Department of Defense research study aimed at "improving survival among people who have difficulty breathing after a trauma," through the University of Louisville. A significant number, up to 15%, of people with traumatic injuries die due to a lack of airway management. Dr. Raymond Orthober, LMEMS medical director and assistant professor of emergency medicine at UofL, is helping lead the university's participation in the clinical trial. Additional EMS1 resources for intubation 5 tips to provide safe and effective ventilation Airway management: Improving first-pass intubation success (eBook) 5 tips for securing a patient's airway Improve endotracheal intubation with First and TEN approach 5 things to know about endotracheal intubation

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. Our cohosts are joined this week by Jeff Hensley, emergency manager for MedTrust Medical Transport in Charleston, South Carolina, who discusses the requirements for the position and the characteristics of a successful emergency manager. The discussion also touches on the role of emergency management in the community during public health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the opioid epidemic.

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visitlexipol.com. Inside EMS cohosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson respond to the social media discussion on a recent EMS1 article: "Should waveform capnography be in the EMT scope of practice?" The comments on the topic were divided: "If you can bag or insert an airway, you should be able to use ETCO2. As others have said, it’s a fantastic tool for all levels of clinical practice." "They need to be good at what is already in their scope of practice and most of the aren’t. They’re just medic dependent." "... Why is this even a question? Absolutely yes." Our cohosts discuss how to train EMTs for this skill and how to make it a reality in the educational process. Chris offers his take on the topic and suggests that nothing needs to be added to the EMT curriculum; instead, he believes it's the responsibility of the agency to teach this skill.

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. Cohosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson discuss the "hidden curriculum" in EMS education on this episode of the Inside EMS podcast, differentiating the fine line between a discussion of the educational components, the potentiality for bad habits and "lore" of EMS – and all three have a place. The duo makes the case for balance when teaching about the good, the bad and the ugly of an EMS career. The discussion also touches on valuing experience over evidence-based medicine, how to take the ego out of the educational process, and instructor tips for teaching flexibility and the importance of doing the right thing as a matter of principle to students. Additional EMS education resources: Passion: Is it required to teach EMS? Addressing toxic heroism in the EMS education system How to recognize lazy students, bad instructors

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. By request, this episode of Inside EMS tackles the topic of resiliency, based on a conversation cohost Chris Cebollero had with listener Benoit Rudolphe at EMS World Expo. Cebollero and fellow cohost Kelly Grayson take the idea and run with it, detailing the top six elements of achieving personal or professional resilience. Additional resiliency resources: How to build mental health resilience in EMS Quick Take: Building first responder resilience Fit for duty: How to be a resilient responder Enhancing first responder resilience through mindfulness EMT 360: Teach emotional resilience during training

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. Fresh off their appearance at EMS World Expo, Inside EMS cohosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson break down what it takes to become a successful conference speaker. The duo discuss the process for getting engaged in events at both the state and national level, how to develop a professional presentation, the agonizing-but-cathartic process of crafting a catchy title and the critical need for to fully prepare before the event. To cap off the episode, Chris gives listeners a behind-the-scenes look at his personal preparation process ahead of a speaking engagement. Learn more about attending and speaking at EMS conferences: Conference dos and don’ts How to select education sessions at an EMS conference EMS conferences: 10 reasons for volunteers to attend 10 ways to get the most out of a virtual conference

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. This week, co-hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson discuss the murder of FDNY EMS Capt. Alison Russo, who was violently stabbed to death by a man just a half mile from her home EMS station. The conversation touches on personal safety, how to prepare the EMS workforce with additional safety equipment and self defense training. The duo also revisit the fraught discussion about arming EMS providers in the field and how thoughts on the topic have evolved over the years. Notable quotes from the episode "Some people say, 'We're not combatants, we're compassionate.' I was a combat medic; we can do both." — Chris Cebollero "Are we becoming so inured to the violence we face every day that we look at it as part of the job?" — Kelly Grayson "I think we need to learn hand-to-hand combat, I think we need to worry about wearing Kevlar vests, and we need to think about arming our paramedics with some kind of weapon." — Chris Cebollero More about fallen FDNY EMS Capt. Alison Russo An outpouring of support, outrage over FDNY EMS provider's murder Rapid response: Risk of senseless violence is constantly looming EMS response is often considered safer than firefighting, but is it? Former partner of slain FDNY EMS Lt. Alison Russo reflects on her love of EMS Slain FDNY EMS Lt. Alison Russo devoted herself to volunteer agency for 30 years Fallen 25-year FDNY veteran was months from retirement FDNY EMS Lt. Alison Russo to be posthumously promoted to captain

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. In this episode, host Chris Cebollero is joined by guest co-host Mike Touchstone, who previously served as president of the National EMS Management Association and recently retired as the deputy paramedic chief of the Philadelphia Fire Department. Touchstone outlines the foundations of professionalism in your career, including the integration of your personal values, how to develop a personal strategic plan and how to advance to the next level of your EMS career. For good measure, Touchstone also offers a few tips on developing a national presence through professional writing and speaking on EMS issues at conferences.

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. In this episode, cohosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson discuss the drug Ketamine and its use in EMS. Providers may utilize the drug to assist with many different conditions they encounter in the field. The discussion references a recent article regarding ketamine's possible use in treating anxiety and depression, and the conversation turns to other drugs that are being used to treat similar maladies, such as MDMA, which has been touted as helpful when treating terminal patients. Additional resources for ketamine use in EMS: 6 ways to avoid ketamine pitfalls Article Bites: Pain management options Understanding prehospital ketamine: Dosing to drawbacks Excited delirium: The Long Beach integrated medical response Vodcast: Patient with delirium and agitated behavior

This episode of the Inside EMS podcast is sponsored by Verizon Frontline, the advanced network and technology for first responders on the front lines. Learn more at verizon.com/frontline. In this special crossover episode, public safety leaders come together to reflect on the 21st anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks and the legacy of 9/11 in the emergency services. Inside EMS host Chris Cebollero is joined by Policing Matters host Jim Dudley, deputy chief (ret.), of the San Francisco Police Department; and Gary Ludwig, of the Champaign (Illinois) Fire Department, the 2022 IAFC Career Fire Chief of the Year. Together, they discuss how first responders have continued to move forward for over 20 years now and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice on 9/11 as recruits enter public safety who were not even born yet at the time. The focus is on honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice and lived up to their oath to help others in their time of need, the legacy of lessons learned about responding in a hazardous situation, ongoing vigilance against threats and why “never forget” should not be a cavalier statement, but one made with meaning, purpose and with emphasis. Read more recollections, as well as how lessons learned are impacting the way first responders of today train and respond to incidents in our 9/11 coverage, sponsored by Verizon.

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. In this episode, cohosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson are joined by guests Lisa Giruzzi and Robbie MacCue, founders of the EMS Leadership Academy in New York. The robust conversation emphasizes the most important attributes of a leader, and the group discusses what future EMS leaders should know about the current state of the industry and where it's headed. Giruzzi and MacCue also share the philosophy of the EMS Leadership Academy and discuss the upcoming Fourth Annual EMS Leadership Summit. Learn more about the summit here.