In this conversation, Tyler and Dr. Cynthia Griffin discuss the finger thoracostomy procedure. They cover topics such as when to choose finger thoracostomy over needle decompression, the equipment needed for the procedure, the technique for performing the procedure, and potential complications and tips for success. They also touch on the use of che…

Alaina Martini, a flight nurse at Allegheny Life Flight, shares her expertise on transporting patients with external ventricular drains (EVDs). She explains the indications for EVD insertion, such as aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and obstructive hydrocephalus. Alaina discusses the importance of assessing the color and texture of the cerebrospi…

Dr. John Aho discusses needle decompression and the procedure's indications, techniques, and potential pitfalls. He emphasizes the importance of high clinical suspicion and the limitations of external signs in diagnosing tension pneumothorax. The conversation also covers the choice of needle insertion sites, the use of ultrasound, and the need for …

An iceberg typically shows only 10% of its mass above water. To appreciate the other 90%, you need to dive deep. That’s precisely what we’re doing in this series—discovering the deeper knowledge about obstetric topics. These topics can be massive, and much of the information is below the ‘surface-level’ knowledge that EMS is presented with. In this…

The conversation is about a paper on false electrical capture and pre-hospital transcutaneous pacing by paramedics. The guests, Tom Boutilet, Josh Kimbrell, and Judah Kreinbrook, discuss their research findings and the implications for paramedics. They conducted a retrospective study and found that paramedics often mistakenly believe they have elec…

After a longer than expected break, Mike is joined live in the studio by Brian Cress. Brian is one of the newest addition to the FOAMfrat Team of educators. He is a paramedic turned perfusionist and was a real treat to get to know him better. Get your questions in now for the next episode of the podcast CLICK HERE to submit now! CLICK HERE to watch…

In this episode we discuss whether the concept of having a "max dose" of your pressor has any evidence or physiological backing. Joining me in this discussion are Dan Rauh, Shane O'Donnell, and Shad Ruby.

Happy Thanksgiving from the the FOAMfrat team. This is a special release for the holiday from the RSIPodcast. Mike recently had a successful deer hunt and in the spirit of ethical hunting the heart was taken to the fire station for a dissection to allow it to have an educational value. The vidoe of the dissection is posted to YouTube CLICK HERE to …

How do you talk to a patient experiencing suicidal ideation? What if you're the one having these thoughts? We're interviewing James Boomhower from Stay Fit 4 Duty in this episode. We discuss suicidal ideation, therapeutic communication, and verbal de-escalation.

Jared and Mike walk through a tough peri-intubation collapse case sent in by a listener. We hope you enjoy the insights and are very appreciative of the listener that sent very in depth case details. Don't miss the blog for this one as it has the complete case with ECGs. CLICK HERE to go to the blog. Get your questions in for the next episode CLICK…

Chris Carlstrom is a flight nurse at Life Link III and also works part-time at a ketamine infusion clinic. We’ve had some interesting conversations on shift regarding his experiences with ketamine in the clinic versus emergency medicine and I finally was able to get one of these conversations recorded for the podcast. Enjoy Podcast 163 - What Can W…

Jared and Mike welcome Dr. Bram Duffee to discuss his thoughts on communication in EMS as well as some a recent book and study release of his. Get your questions in now for the next episode CLICK HERE to submit CLICK HERE to watch us on YouTube

When I became a paramedic, being able to provide pain management was one of the "new interventions" that I looked forward to most. As an EMT, I remember countless times I was without ALS resources and had to watch a patient suffering in pain until we got to the hospital. Trying to obtain any history or perform an assessment on someone writhing in p…

Taking on pharmacology in EMT school is a big hurdle. We wanted to write something that not only explained the basics of the medications but also helped bridge the gap between what EMTs are taught and what paramedics learn when they go back over these medications in paramedic pharmacology. Each chapter discusses how the medications work, why they'r…

Jared and Mike are back and catch you up on what they've been up to. We also answer your questions on finger thoracostomy and medicating intubated patients. Get your questions in now for the next episode CLICK HERE You can also find us on YouTube

I had the privilege to bring on two passionate fathers of children with Autism to help me better understand how to approach and communicate with a neuro-diverse child. This episode is chock-full of insight, tips, tricks, and logistics of approaching a child in the field with Autism. Josh Chan is a Life Link III flight paramedic/base lead and a Glen…

EMS providers encounter various infectious diseases daily and need to know the routes of exposure, risks, and preventive measures to protect themselves and their families. In this episode, We talk with Dr. Hudson Garrett, an infectious disease expert with the medical college of Louisville University, to discuss the practical points of infectious di…

Join Mike as we get to know Shay Montgomery. Learn about her interests, passions, and lessons learned from a recent interesting shift. Mike and Jared will be back in the usual format for the next episode. Get your questions in for the next episode CLICK HERE

In this episode, Dan Rauh & Mike Boone from Heavy Lies The Helmet join me to hash out our workflows and drugs of choice for four particular scenarios you may come across. The combative head injury patient that needs to be intubated but has five firefighters holding them down and is actively trying to rip off his collar and IV. The septic hypotensiv…

In this episode Mike sits down with a law enforcement officer to discuss body cams released from an incident in Ilinois that resulted in two EMTs being charged with murder. Be sure to catch this episode in video format on YouTube CLICK HERE to go to the YouTube channel now. Get your questions in for the next episode CLICK HERE to submit now!…

Moments after the heart stops the entire circulatory system finally has a chance to bring venous and arterial pressures to equilibrium. Cardiac arrest resuscitation requires the provider to have a strong mental model of physiology and the logistics to carry out a series of interventions crucial to preserving life. This class will serve not as a rou…

AI will be integrated into everything we do in medicine, perhaps sooner than we think. It will help keep our patients safe, our providers informed, and our communications connected, and change how we think about how we care for patients (if implemented correctly). Systems like ChatGPT are only the beginning, and many companies are already working o…

In this episode, Tyler is joined by Shaylah Montgomery to discuss decision-making, human factors, and mental shortcuts utilizing pattern detection. Shaylah is a flight nurse and paramedic for Pafford Air One and a member of the FOAMfrat team.

0.9. When a patient is in shock, their volume of distribution changes, and peripheral blood flow is reduced. This means more blood is shunted to the brain,, and lower doses of sedation will give the agent therapeutic brain levels.

Just Jared and Mike for this episode but will have a surprise guest for the next episode. Get your questions in now! CLICK HERE to submit your question Be sure to check out the blog for more information on this episode. CLICK HERE for the blog 1) Ever since the Damar Hamlin incident I have had a lot of people ask about commotio cordis. I was wonder…

We just finished re-recording our pediatric arrest class in Studio and decided to play the unedited version of my discussion with Dr. Paul Banerjee. Banerjee is a prolific researcher and medical director in Florida with a particular emphasis on pediatric arrest. Check out the class in Studio for more information on the logistics.…

Sam Henne is the creator of Mind Over Medic and a co-worker of mine at Life Link III. In this episode, we discuss the components of critical incident stress and ways to reduce adrenaline during threat appraisal. Check out www.mindovermedic.com

Jared and Mike are again joined by Jake to tackle more of your questions. Get your questions in for the next episode now! CLICK HERE to submit your question now! Be sure to check out the blog for this episode for full length questions and a contest to win some FOAMfrat swag! CLICK HERE to go to the blog now 1) Can you guys weigh in on the recent da…

EMS is well-trained in peripheral intravenous as well as intraosseous access. However, central lines remain off-limits for many clinicians in various response areas. If accessing these types of lines is allowed, it’s usually permitted when the patient is (nearly) dead. This isn’t very surprising since the scope of practice of the EMS clinician usua…

Jake is welcomed back to discuss a time when everything didn't go right. We discuss the provider mental model related to this. Get your questions in now for the next episode! CLICK HERE to submit your question now! You can find more information in the blog for this episode. CLICK HERE for the blog! CLICK HERE to watch us on YouTube…

Had the opportunity to talk with Dr. Sam Slishman, the inventor of the Slishman traction splint. We had a great conversation on the idea/concept of this splint, who to apply it on, and some additional questions, which we plan on having him back on to discuss.

Enjoy Jared's EKG Clinic! We can't wait to hear from you and are already planning our next podcast. Get your questions in now! CLICK HERE to submit your question now! 1) Interested to hear your thoughts on the new ACC/AHA Guidelines? 2) Would you consider purposefully right mainstemming an ET tube in the presence of left lung injury? You can find f…

A-a gradient, a/A ratio, and P: F ratio - are all different views of the same item. These formulas do not have a complete view of oxygenation. Oxygenation is a huge topic, and there are more common values that we use: How well is the patient saturating? Is there dyspnea? How do the lungs sound (auscultation) or look (POCUS)? Where is the patient on…

I ran some specific decision points when treating the REALLY BAD massiVE pulmonary embolism patient by Shane & Brian from the FOAMfrat Team. This discussion really focuses on the logistics and ideas when you are trying to get the patient from A to B without having to do CPR.

Hope you enjoy Episode 31. Get your questions in now for the next episode! CLICK HERE to submit your question now! 1) How can I address an underperforming employee? 2) I recently had another responder take issue with an albuterol treatment given to a CHF patient. What are your thoughts? 3) Opinion on timing and use of TXA in traumatic arrest resusc…

Welcome back! No special guest this time, but we have more coming! Get your questions in now for the next episode. CLICK HERE to submit a question now! 1) Please share more on ventilation of asthmatics 2) Thoughts on CCR vs CPR 3) I want POC labs and am getting pushback. What do you think You can find more in depth information in the blog for this …

Theresa Bowden is a rockstar flight nurse who specializes in NICU transports. In this episode, you will listen in as Theresa explains anything and everything you have ever wondered about NICU interfacility transports. Topics include: Who gets prostaglandin? IO or IV catheter for UVC Cardiac vs. Respiratory Initial Vent Settings Get credit for this …

Happy Father's Day! We hope you enjoy meeting Shane and getting your questions answered. Please get your questions in now for the next episode. CLICK HERE to submit now! 1) Managing pediatric asthmatics on the vent 2) Thoughts on pediatric airways 3) What kind of EDC (everyday carry) medical gear do you carry You can find more in depth information …

Welcome back and happy Memorial Day. We are thankful for all those who made the ultimate sacrifice for each of us. In this episode you will get to know FOAMfrat's own Austin Brook. CLICK HERE to submit your question now for the next episode! 1) Answers to ventilator strategy? 2) Should I stop my amiodarone infusion? 3) How do I get my co-workers to…

Does IVC assessment have a role in pre-hospital ultrasound? This week we talk to one of the newest members of FOAMfrat, Shane O'Donnell.

Welcome back to episode 27! We are excited to sit down with the FOAMfrat medical director, Dr. Cynthia Griffin. We are looking forward to more of your questions. Plenty of exciting guests coming up, so get them in now CLICK HERE to submit your question now! 1) Do we need POCUS to stop PEA arrest resus? 2) Considerations for heart transplant transpo…

Do specialized pediatric jump bags alienate the pediatric population? They typically don’t get used as much, and introducing a foreign bag into a low volume population may add to the stress of running a pediatric call anyway. In this episode, Sam & Tyler discuss the case against the pediatric jump bag.…

Welcome back to episode 26 and get to know Paul Turnquist. We are always ready to hear from you. This is your chance to design your own podcast. CLICK HERE to submit your question now! Next guest will be Dr. Cynthia Griffin 1) Got any tips for limited resource RSI? 2) Thoughts on future of EMS continuing education? 3) CCT logistics pointers? 4) Do …

Welcome back to episode 25. We have some exciting guests coming up so stay tuned! This is your chance to design your own podcast. CLICK HERE to submit your question now. 1) Emergent vs Non-emergent responses? 2) How to improve radio communications? 3) How do you preox? 4) Culture vs career growth. How do you decide? Full versions of questions and m…

The FOAMfrat podcast is back in 2022 with a discussion on how virtual reality can be used in EMS education. We did our first VR class a few weeks ago and here's what we learned and what we plan to do with it!

Welcome back to Episode 24. We hope that you enjoy getting to meet Jay Nance! We are always ready to hear from you. This is your opportunity to design your own podcast! CLICK HERE to submit your question now! 1) Transport destination considerations for transplant patients 2) How do you learn complex subjects? 3) Getting ready to graduate paramedic …

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland. But for some, it can be more like a bullet to the neck. The number of systems that our thyroid helps regulate truly is incredible, and an over or under-active thyroid can cause a whole host of acute and chronic issues. On the one hand, imagine a patient who has a thyroid history and is cold, weak, and has a …

Jared and Mike are joined in the studio by fellow team member Brittany Grandfield. You've read her blogs, now get to know her better. As always, we are ready for your questions. Ask us anything!! CLICK HERE to submit your question for the next episode You can also watch the episode with video on YouTube 1) Dopamine with right ventricular MI? 2) Tho…

I reached out to @medtwitter asking for help finding a guest to talk about the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). It may seem weird to be talking about RSV when everyone is thinking about the current pandemic, but I find the virology and mechanism of symptoms of RSV exciting. Twitter did not let me down, my friend Ashley Liebig recommended Natalie …

A young pediatric patient is having nausea and vomiting at school and is said to not be 'staying awake very well.' You discover assessment findings such as hypotension, hypoglycemia, and maybe even peaked T waves on the ECG. You receive information indicating that the child has something called "CAH". Or, perhaps... An older patient is having dizzi…