Anaphylaxis + Asthma: When Standard Anaphylaxis Treatment May Not Be Enough (AMAX4 Explained)
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Show Notes
This episode tells the tragic story of Max McKenzie, a teenager with asthma who died from anaphylaxis despite receiving "standard care." His death led his father, Dr. Ben McKenzie, to develop the AMAX4 algorithm. Educator and critical care transport nurse/paramedic Bruce Hoffman breaks down the algorithm and explains why the combination of anaphylaxis and asthma can be lethal, why IM epinephrine may not be enough, and why this is the time to be aggressive.
But this isn't simply about memorizing another algorithm. It's about developing the operational confidence to recognize when standard approaches may fail and override your impulse to "try the book answer one more time." You'll learn to identify time-critical scenarios, build red-flag combination awareness, and make high-stakes decisions without second-guessing yourself.
Want to systematically build this decision-making confidence? Discover the Paramedic Confidence Builder at emspodcast.com/program —where we teach the operational skills your school didn't.
Guest/Cast/Crew information-
Guest- Bruce Hoffman, Associate Professor, Critical Care RN and Paramedic
Host- Ross Orpet, Will Berry
Catch up with us after the show
- Instagram- @emsloudandclear
- YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@EMSLoudandClear
- Website- www.emspodcast.com
Books we recommend
- The Dichotomy of Leadership - https://amzn.to/4fiCAjN
- Extreme Ownership - https://amzn.to/3O1FWfa
- Managing the Unexpected: Sustained Performance in a Complex World - https://amzn.to/3V7BwYf
- Thinking Fast and Slow - https://amzn.to/4fiJG85
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- A Thousand Naked Strangers: A Paramedic's Wild Ride to the Edge and Back - https://amzn.to/3YJJrf2
Gear We Like
- Good Stethoscope - https://amzn.to/3YJJrf2
- Good Shears - https://amzn.to/40FROuF or https://amzn.to/3ChZ4Tn
- Notepad for taking notes on calls - https://amzn.to/3Z1X21J
Want to stay ahead of the top 1% in EMS and build real confidence in the field?
👉 Book a call to get personalized guidance, improve decision-making under pressure, and grow your skills as a paramedic: https://calendly.com/d/cq38-87r-fkk/paramedic-confidence-builder
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