American Ambulance EMS Podcast

110. TXA in Trauma Patients

Special thanks to Dr. Miranda Lewis for stopping by to discuss the plans for the inclusion of this drug in our Central California EMS Agency's first responder toolbox!  

109. Communications Center 101

April 15-19 is Telecommunications Week, so today we're joined by representatives from our local Communications Center to talk us through what their shifts are like. So join us as we break down what life is like on the other end of the radio!  Special thanks to Communications Director Jamie Martin, Call Taker Eloy Robles and Radio Operator/Supervisor Amanda Wilson!

108. Scene Safety

Dr. Patil Armenian couldn't join us for today's podcast, but we have a full panel of guests to talk about the incredibly important topic of scene safety in EMS. Sergeant Mike Martin join us from the Fresno Police Department, Jamie Martin from the Fresno County Communications Center, Ben Wiele and Ken Katz from American Ambulance, and we have Paramedic Derek Ratzel join us once again to share a story from the field to get the conversation rolling!    

107. Facial and Oral Lacerations

Special thanks to American Ambulance's own Kurt Kindig for sharing his story from the field on this episode.  GRAPHIC WARNING for the story portion of this episode. Although this is a medical podcast, some things can still be triggering, especially when gore and suicide are discussed.  This is the first episode that Ben Wiele will be joining the discussion as a regular paramedic co-host. We are very excited to welcome him to our American Ambulance EMS Podcast team!  

106. Initiation and Termination of CPR in Medical Patients

A special thanks to American Ambulance Critical Care Paramedic Robert Wankel for joining us for this podcast! 

105. High Performance CPR

Possibly our most important episode ever? Share it with everyone you know, because when it comes to surviving cardiac arrest, speed is everything and technique helps a LOT. Bystander CPR absolutely saves lives, so spread the word!  Special thanks to Dr. Nathan Dreyfus for being a guest host on this episode. 

104. Stroke (LVO)

Today, Dr. Miranda Lewis and Dr. Hana Choe bring their expertise to the podcast, and we are also pleased to have American Ambulance Paramedic Dan Bernhardt share a case from the field for us to discuss! 

103. The Hypoglycemic Patient

On today's episode we are joined by special guest host, Dr. Chelsea Lima.  

102. Preeclampsia and Eclampsia

101. Penetrating Eye Trauma

This episode goes hand in hand with episode 98. Blunt Orbital Trauma. 

100. 100th Episode Celebration!

We could think of no better way to celebrate our 100th episode than to have four career paramedics come and share their stories and wisdom gained from their many years of experience in the field. A very special thank you to Lonnie Taylor, Rick Zavala, Mario Torralva, and Dan Ward!  

99. Hypertension

Dr. Seema Policepatil joins us today from UCSF Fresno to share some of her expertise as we dive into the subject of Hypertension. 

98. Blunt Orbital Trauma

American Ambulance Paramedic Dan Ward brings a story of how he treated a patient with Blunt Orbital Trauma on today's podcast!

95. Substance Use Disorders

Special thanks to Paramedic Hillary Neal for sharing a case with us!

96. Behavioral Emergencies and Mimics

Special thanks to Paramedic Hillary Neal for sharing a case with us!

97. The Alcohol Intoxicated Patient

Special thanks to Paramedic Hillary Neal for sharing a case with us!

94. Sepsis

Sepsis is the body's extreme response to an infection. Join us as we break it down.  

93. Sleep for the Shift Worker

Dr. Lynn Keenan (Clinical Professor of Medicine, UCSF Program Director of Sleep Medicine Fellowship) joins us for a discussion on sleep. For something we spend a third of our lives doing, you might be surprised at how little you know about it and the effects it has on our waking hours.  

92. TXA

91. Infectious Diseases

We are pleased to have Dr. Geetha Sivasubramanian, interim chief of the division of infectious disease at UCSF Fresno, join us today for our discussion.  

90. Hymenoptera Stings

Bees? Bees! What do you do??! Find out here.

89. Covid-19 Update (May 2023)

87. Ketamine

Welcome to another deep dive into an important drug. Today, our team is honored to be joined by Dr. Miranda Lewis,  assistant medical director for SEMSA, and an emergency physician at CRMC. 

86. Naloxone

On this episode we take a close look at Naloxone, one of the important tools in the EMS toolbox to treat opioid overdose.  

85. Hypothermia in Trauma Patients

Trauma patients are going through a lot. Hypothermia is one of those issues that can be overlooked if not addressed properly. So let's get into it.

84. Crush Injuries

Today we are joined by two special cohosts AND a special guest. Doctors Robyn Coelho, and Lavinia Turian. Paramedic Samantha Wimpey brings a case from her past to spark the conversation!  

83. Drug Shortages

Unfortunately, drug shortages affect us all. In this episode, our hosts mull over why they happen, and how best to mitigate the effects of these shortages. 

82. Chest Compressions

Let's dive into the history and reason for the basics! 

81. Neonatal Resuscitation

Delivering a baby is one of the most amazing things that can happen in this job. But what happens if things don't go as we hope? A huge thanks to Paramedic Derek Ratzel for stopping in to the podcast studio once again and sharing his incredible case with us!

80. Epistaxis

Or, in layperson's terms, nose bleeds!

79. Chemical Burns

Dr. Liliana Samano from UCSF Fresno joins us today to discuss chemical burns. 

78. Winter Respiratory Virus Update

There are a lot of different viruses going around out there right now. Why that is and how best to navigate this surge is what we cover in today's episode. 

77. Pediatric Bradycardia

76. Special Events and Mass Gatherings

American Ambulance's own Russ Richardson stops in to bring his experience to this topic's discussion today!

75. Thermal Burns

74. Monkeypox Vaccines

What are they? Do you need one? Find out on today's episode. 

73. Strangulation

This is a particularly unpleasant subject, but our team breaks it down so that you can be prepared if/when responding to one of these unfortunate calls. 

72. Questions from the Field

We heard you! Thank you to those who submitted their questions, and please, don't hesitate to email us with any concerns or topics you'd like to hear our team address. On this episode we discuss bilateral needle thoracostomy, IO vs. IV, and C-spine immobilization criteria.       

71. Monkeypox

You've heard about it in the news. It's here. Let's talk about it!

70. Troubleshooting Difficult Transport Scenarios

What do you do when difficult/unexpected transport scenarios come up? Often, we need to be creative, so join us as we discuss how to following all available protocols for these unexpected events.

69. IGel

A special thanks to special guest Christian Valdez for bringing us some stories of using the IGel in the field.

68. Ectopic Pregnancy

Paramedic Justin Belk stops in to share a story from the field today. Thanks Justin!

67. Syncope

Today our team is joined by American Ambulance's Justin Golding and UCSF Fresno's Dr. Paloma Marin-Nevares!

66. C Spine Immobilization

Paramedic Lano Tucay stops in again to share a case with us that required C Spine Immobilization.  

65. Upper GI Bleeding

Upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is bleeding that can be happening anywhere in the esophagus, stomach, or the upper part of the small intestine. It is usually a symptom of an underlying disorder, and it can be very serious.

64. Pulmonary Embolism

American Ambulance Paramedic Lano Tucay stops by the studio this week to share one of his stories about recognizing pulmonary embolism in the field. Thanks, Lano, always a pleasure!

63. Tracheostomy Tube Complications

Paramedic Stephan Rippee joins our podcast team today to share a trach story from his early days in EMS.

62. Spider Bites

How do you recognize a spider bite? What kinds of bites should they be taken seriously, and how do you treat them? Thankfully we have the incredible toxicologist, Dr. Patil Armenian here to break it down for us! 

61. Prehospital Bleeding Control

On this episode, our team is joined by Dr. Lawrence Sue, Clinical Professor of Surgery/Associate Chief of Trauma at Community Regional Medical Center to discuss how to manage prehospital bleeding. Dr. Sue also serves as a medic on Fresno's SWAT team and that experience in prehospital medicine is what makes him such a great guest for today's subject. Enjoy! 

60. Covid-19 Update (3/8/2022)