What’s Your Emergency

Latest Episodes:

More EMTs Behaving Badly - Bring out your dead Mar 01, 2023

Show notes

In the noted cinematic masterpiece "The Princess Bride", Billy Crystal's character, Miracle Max, is asked to assess a dead body to see if he can perform a miracle and bring the body back to life. He pokes and prods rather randomly, then declares, "Lucky for you he's only *mostly* dead."

In the Monty Python film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" a man collecting bodies during the plague is met by a man trying to pass an obviously alive relative as dead. "There...he says he's no dead..."

In the remarkably family friendly children's film Django Unchained, Django is asked if he is positive a man riding away is the man he is searching for to be killed. After a rifle shot brings the man down Django casually says "I'm positive he dead."

Sadly, a version of these scenarios played out in Clearwater Florida recently where Paramedics declared a man dead then left the scene. A short while later a Sheriff's Deputy who remained on scene for the medical examiner noticed the 65 year old "dead" man breathing. He was later treated and remains in the hospital as of the time of this recording. We also do an amazing recreation of the likely radio traffic between the Deputy and dispatch. How we haven't been nominated for an award is beyond us. Something to ponder indeed.

This week we discuss:

Is it really that hard to know if someone is alive? What about using a mirror?
What criteria must be followed to declare someone dead
What are the wrong things to say when making the notification
How did MC even function with 3mbps internet? That isn't a typo. 3.

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Getting More Done with Marc Hildebrand Feb 22, 2023

Show notes

Marc Hildebrand is a life coach, podcaster, best selling author, father, husband and retired LEO. And while you may look at that list and think "OK, cool" just wait my friends.

This week Jason and Justin welcome a man who looked at himself about to become a father and heard a voice tell him he could do better. Struggling with leadership issues at his agency, Marc went into overdrive, picked up up a P90X DVD and shed 100 lbs on his way to personal growth.

We love making little excuses for ourselves from time to time and your hosts, and Marc, are no exception. If you're feeling like you need someone to help you move forward, reach out to Marc and see what he can do.

Learning points for this week's quiz include:

When to know when you've hit rock bottom
How changing one thing at a time isn't a bad place to start
How adorable retiring after only 20 years is
Who you can talk to when ready to take that first step towards tomorrow

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Aram Bronston and life in Antarctica Feb 15, 2023

Show notes

You read that right, listeners. Your hosts have lined up yet another amazing international guest in the field of fire, police, EMS and Emergency Planning. Friend of the show and public health expert, Aram Bronston, is with us this week to talk about how he went from snuggled in bed in Northern California to suddenly sitting in Christchurch, New Zealand, on his way to Antarctica.

We had a blast talking to Aram and learning all about what fills his sun drenched days (and nights) and the guys learn all about penguins, after hours entertainment and even touch base on some of the conspiracy theories surrounding the giant island of ice floating at the bottom of the globe.

If you're looking for the link Aram mentions about job openings, look no further than HERE.

This week your hosts learn:

What it takes to get screened to work at McMurdo Station, Antarctica
Why the janitors are likely to have graduate degrees at the bottom of the planet
How to be careful when answering questions about aliens
Why climbing a mountain to see the sun set for 11 minutes is such a big deal

BOLO

Aram provides our BOLO this week with 2 books he's reading:

Lighter by Young Bueblo

Blue Mind by Wallace Nichols

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Rodney Dangerfield and $1 day at the Bargain Bins Feb 08, 2023

Show notes

After a heavy show last week with a total of 7 public safety officers charged with murder, we decide to decompress a bit and fill you in on some local happenings.

First off, both of the boys are following in the shoes of Rodney Dangerfield and are heading back to school! Jason is studying music mainly, although Justin thinks some of the classes he's taking are made up, Jason fell asleep while Justin described his courses in the MPH program at Michigan as well as a statistical modeling course that...oh shoot, you fell asleep, too?

Well then wait until you hear about this fascinating thing that is picking up speed. Folks buy pallets of returned items, working or not, then dump them out for you to search through. But here's the wrinkle: On the first day they set everything out, everything is $10. Then each day the price goes down until Thursday when everything left is just $1. Justin has gotten some interesting things super cheap but just people watching is worth it.

They wrap up discussing the Assassins game at the local high schools and why all the kids are buying NERF guns.

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EMTs Behaving Badly - Very Badly Feb 01, 2023

Show notes

It is very unusual to see a story in the feeds as clear cut as the story coming out of Springfield, Illinois, where Paramedics Peggy Finley and Peter Cadigan were arrested and charged with murder after the death of Earl Moore Jr, a patient under their care. Yes, you read that right...murder.
Officer Axon is always watching...
It turns out these two decided it would be a good idea to approach Mr. Moore, who was having an encounter with local law enforcement. While witnesses state it was alcohol withdrawal, the coroner places the cause of death as traumatic asphyxiation, meaning it was the archaic methods of restraint used by this pair that killed him and, since PD had their cameras running, every comment was caught on camera. While we still don't know *exactly* what happened, the video is damning and shows practices that we've known are dangerous for 50 years.
Since recording the pair has pled not guilty but has not posted the $1,000,000 bail in the case.
After that story we fly over to Memphis, TN for the JEMS story about two Memphis EMTs who are on administrative leave following the death of a patient they treated. While we assumed this case would be similar to the open and shut case as before, the more we read the more interesting the story gets.
Two EMTs are placed on leave, but there is no mention of their omission or commission of care that led to harm. Instead we learned that their patient, who died 3 days after being admitted to the hospital, we tazed, pepper sprayed and suffered multiple traumatic injuries at the hands of five Police Officers, who have all been fired, according to the story. Perhaps this is just a CYA maneuver to protect the employees from constant questions?

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Damar Hamlin and Denny Kellington and why you should care Jan 25, 2023

Show notes

Unless you've been under a giant rock you're aware that Buffalo Bill's Football player Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest during a game against the Bengals recently. While the dark web is flush with conspiracies about the cause, your hosts Jason the law enforcement expert and football fan, and Justin the medical expert and irregular spectator, have narrowed things down and have answers to many outstanding questions.

While we're aware much of our audience may be familiar with the specifics of the event, as of recording of this show Hamlin is recovering at home and no formal diagnosis or cause has been officially released.

However, based on the incident and the swift recovery the overall pre-hospital medical community has it narrowed down to a condition called Commotio Cordis. While a pre-existing condition or other event may yet be identified as the cause, what we do know is that Hamlin was involved in a tackle causing significant pressure to the chest, arose, took a step, then collapsed. Not unlike having your wind knocked out of you, at a certain point of refraction of the ventricles, there exists a moment where the sodium...sorry...got carried away there for a second. There's a certain point where if you get hit in the chest it can mess up your heart, seen most commonly in baseball players...pitchers mostly, when they get hit by a line drive.

It was Buffalo Bills' Assistant trainer Denny Kellington that is credited with recognizing a possible cardiac arrest and starting CPR. As we mention in detail in the show, CPR is not a magic solution for everything but it also isn't hard to learn

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Welcome to Season 5! Jan 18, 2023

Show notes

The boys are back in town and they've got some amazing and fun stories to share about their Christmas breaks! While MC was driving north to spend time with his retired Fireman dad (and 3 kids and 3 dogs in 1 car) HM was headed South to warm temps and a respiratory infection mixed with flight delays.

In the end they received some fun gifts from family and friends and have a chance to share how their patrons at Patreon.com continue to support the show moving in to 2023!

They've also announced the return of the Patch Coaster program!

So thumb a couple bucks to keep the show free for everyone,

Buy us a beer or two,

Or just continue to enjoy the shenanigans of the world's first, best, and still ONLY Fire, Police EMS podcast!

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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! See you next season! Dec 21, 2022

Show notes

Your expert hosts have come to the studio with memories of Christmas past to share and wrap up the year. Stories of having dads in the firehouse, traditions added from in laws and practices long past and forgotten.

They discuss their favorite Christmas memories and give you a little taste of next season here at WYE.

From all of us to all of you, have a Merry Christmas, Blessed Solstice, Joyous Hannukah and a Happy New Year! See you next year!
Check out the website for photos from your hosts enjoying the holidays during their, shall way say, formative years?

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Orlando turns Narcan up to 11, HM cries foul Dec 14, 2022

Show notes

In the epic film This is Spinal Tap, the filmmaker notices the band's amplifiers go past 10 to 11. He asks why and they answer, "Well, it's louder, isn't it?"

This appears to be the thought behind a new FDA approved medication called Kloxxado, a name HM totally didn't make up on the spot. Kloxxado, aside from having 2 x's in it, is simply...wait for it...Nalaxone in a higher dose. A non profit in, of all places, Florida is giving this out to local businesses to combat the opioid crisis. Klaxxado is an 8mg intra nasal dose of Nalaxone, or "Narcan." So, essentially, what this program is doing is taking a questionably useful application of an extremely useful medication and doubling it. Narcan is available in a 4mg nasal spray, this new drug is 8mg.

HM asserts this is foolishness since we are already dumping 12+mg of Naloxone on OD patients without applying positive pressure ventilation (you know, breathing for them...their actual problem) and this simply makes no sense. However, in true HM style, he waits until the very end to say he hopes he's wrong.

This week, we cover:

How turning up the dosage won't help if it isn't applied properly
That the number of cops passing out from fentanyl hysteria seems to have decreased
This program is geared towards downtown clubs and restaurants, not the homeless
That HM believes Nalaxone should be aerosolized in some neighborhoods

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In the News - First Responder Gun Safety and Punching Subordinates Dec 07, 2022

Show notes

This week, we dive into the headlines and find a disturbing thread at the top of most of the feeds: We're shooting each other. Both firearm examples today are from the great state of Texas while the honor of having a Battalion Chief punching a subordinate falls to Pennsylvania.

First, we visit the parking lot of the Palestine TX Fire Department where one member was so excited to show his gun to a buddy he forgot to make it safe first. This led your hosts on a tangent (I know, big surprise) about firefighters carrying weapons on duty.

Then we talk about the PA Fire Chief who "slugged" a subordinate at the scene of a fire, apparently over a command decision.

Then to wrap it up on a positive note the guys discuss an Officer shot with a live round at a training exercise at a school being released from the Hospital.

This week, we cover:

Should firefighters be carrying loaded weapons on duty and why or why not?
Procedures for ensuring a safe exercise
That there was far more to the relationship in PA than professionalism (or lack thereof)
That Justin was dared to start a spreadsheet

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