This episode of the Inside EMS Podcast is sponsored by Verizon Frontline, the advanced network and technology for first responders. To learn more, visit verizon.com/frontline. The 2024 anniversary of 9/11 marks 23 years since the tragic events that forever altered the course of history and the landscape of public safety. As we move further from that fateful day, the significance of remembering and learning from 9/11 grows even more critical. For many, especially younger generations, 9/11 is transitioning from a lived experience to a historical event, making it essential for public safety professionals to ensure that the lessons identified are not only remembered, but actively applied in today's ever-evolving emergency response environment. In this special crossover episode of the Policing Matters, Better Every Shift and Inside EMS podcasts, Co-hosts Jim Dudley, Aaron Zamzow and Rob Lawrence highlight the importance of remembering 9/11 not just as a historical event but as a continuing influence on how public safety agencies operate today.

This week on Inside EMS, our cohosts discuss a recent study out of UC Davis Health that highlights the benefits of using naloxone in opioid-associated out-of-hospital cardiac arrest response. Chris and Kelly discuss the results and debate how this knowledge could impact OHCA protocols. Top quotes “If you look at the … survival of hospital discharge, the number needed to treat was 26. So 1 in 26 patients you would do this to has a chance of surviving the hospital discharge. That's pretty compelling. It's going to change my practice.” — Kelly Grayson “It's obviously needed information considering how bad the opioid overdose epidemic is in the United States. The numbers are compelling – the fact that this affects so many of our out-of-hospital cardiac arrests and that this actually shows pretty strong evidence of improved outcome.” — Kelly Grayson “We think about over the past 20 years, and now with fentanyl being part of that process, we're starting to see a lot more [drug-related cardiac arrests] and there's an urgent need for this evidence that allows us to now figure out if Narcan can make a difference in OHCAs.” — Chris Cebollero 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 on the Inside EMS podcast, our hosts delve into a heated discussion on the topic of time requirements and response times in EMS – are they necessary or a nuisance? Listen and watch as Kelly Grayson and Chris Cebollero go back and forth on the history, the reliance and the continued use of response times as a standard metric in EMS. Top quotes "We are in a mess and a corner we painted ourselves into with response time standards." – Kelly Grayson "The dislike of response times really has to be respectful of how the response times came about. We were trying to develop a system and show that we can make a difference." – Chris Cebollero "We created this expectation and no one is going to change this expectation if not us." – 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.

In this episode of the Inside EMS podcast, host Chris Cebollero walks cohost Kelly Grayson through his recent emergency trip to Italy after his sister experienced a major medical crisis while on vacation in the country. He talks through his shock at certain protocols that would never be found in the U.S., leading to a discussion about necessary care vs. defensive medicine and how that dichotomy is stark between the two countries. Top quotes “The quality of care or the TLC, if we call it, is significantly less than what we’re used to over here. There were a couple of days when my sister was laying on a bed with no sheets. There were a couple of days where she was naked and I asked about getting her a gown or something.” — Chris Cebollero "[The U.S. healthcare system] will enthusiastically commit to what other countries would consider futile care.” — Kelly Grayson “How much stuff do we do in the United States because of defensive medicine and the differences in our legal and our court system than everybody else?” — 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.

“Marijuana use is becoming part of a societal norm.” Our cohosts tackle one of the more contentious topics in the industry, as Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson debate the logistics and implications of allowing EMS providers to consume marijuana in their off-duty time. The use of federal money by most agencies in the country makes this a difficult task. Listen as the discussion tackles the debate from all sides. Top quotes “We don't require that people not be impaired from alcohol while off duty.” “There's no test for impairment. For alcohol use, the test is literally about reaction time and fine motor skills. It's literally a test to see if you can operate heavy machinery. And there is no such thing for marijuana use.” “I think it's time we started to look at this realistically rather than this condemnation of marijuana as the devil's lettuce.” 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.

“You need to set the standard; the standard starts and ends with you.” On this week’s episode of Inside EMS, our cohosts discuss how industry leaders can motivate frontline personnel to become the best clinical version of themselves. Chris and Kelly also preview their upcoming presentations at the Star Life Rural EMS conference, touching on topics ranging from airway management to personal development and leadership in EMS. Top quotes “The true measurement of leadership success is how engaged, satisfied and productive the workforce is.” — Chris Cebollero “When we focus on the workforce as being the most important component to the success of the organization; when the workforce grows, the organization grows.” — Chris Cebollero “Your vision statement is the most important document inside your organization, and it amazes me when leaders in the organization don’t know their own vision statement.” — Chris Cebollero 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.

“All of EMS is volunteerism.” This week, host Chris Cebollero is joined by industry advocate and EMS1 columnist Nancy Magee to discuss the current state of volunteerism in the profession. The conversation explores how leaders can balance the demands placed on volunteers with proper recognition, support and understanding, while also being responsive to the community’s needs. Top quotes from the episode “Volunteering is its own reward. It really can help you in your head space, but you don't get that until you try it.” “People have to know that what they do made a difference. You're important to the agency. We need you and what you do every day, whether it's putting a little old lady back in her bed or recognizing that she's decompensating and not that she dropped the remote this time.” “It has to be understood by the community that EMS costs money. And you're getting a great bang for your buck if you have competent, local, readily available volunteers.” 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, our Inside EMS cohosts discuss the rise in popularity of semiglutide drugs – like Ozempic – used for weight loss. Chris and Kelly discuss what providers should know about the use of these drugs, for their personal use and how complications may present in patients. Top quotes "If you're using semiglutide drugs purely as your only means of weight loss, you're going to rebound." “You eat at odd hours, you eat at odd intervals. You eat something nuked in a microwave at a 7/11. Those are horrific eating habits, and it teaches your body to just hoard calories and food, and you wind up gaining weight that way. There's a lot of fat people in EMS, myself included, that are proof of that.” "A lot of drugs out there came on the market for something and now we're using it for something else." 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.

“We've got to be on top of our game when it comes to clinical dosing of medications, from oxygen to ketamine.” This week, Inside EMS cohosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson dive into an article by Joshua Davies on the use of chemical restraints in the field. They discuss the pros and cons of different medications, including a lively discussion on the use of versed and why ketamine is a good drug … when dosed and used properly. Top quotes "You should have a fairly extensive formulary of antipsychotic and sedative agents available to you." "We need to stop worrying about what we're seeing in the news and train our providers." "We really have to be able to give our medical director confidence that whatever is in the protocol and whatever they want to give us in the protocol, we have the competency to do that work and do that 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.

“If you're the smartest one in the room, you're in the wrong room.” Education is the word of the day on this episode of Inside EMS, as cohosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson dissect the impact of higher learning on providers’ career longevity and advancement. Plus we dig into all this: Starter EMS agencies. “Some agencies might just have to be the minor leagues, the starter programs and the feeders to the real EMS agencies." Prioritizing your professional growth. “We're in charge of the career ladder. I shouldn't have to worry about my organization putting something in place for me to grow. They don’t owe that to me. It's my job to market myself and create the opportunity." Big picture impact of higher education. “When people say, ‘I don't need an education to be a paramedic,’ they don't know what they don't know. It's not until you get a little older and a little wiser that you realize the value of that education." 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.

“Even after all these years of being in EMS, I still want to learn.” Flying solo this week, Chris Cebollero takes a note from EMS1 columnist Tim Nowak, walking listeners through his “11 keys to success for the rookie EMT.” Though directed at new EMTs, Cebollero makes the point that Nowak’s list of advice is really poignant for anyone at any point in their EMS career. Listen to learn: The role ego plays on scene … and how to move past it How to test your quick-thinking reflexes and level-up The slow creep of complacency and how to avoid it Top quotes "When someone needs you and needs your ability and needs your knowledge and needs your skill, you don't need to be looking for the OB kit." "Never settle for the minimum, whether it's the standard of patient care, compassion, continuing education hours." “You are going to make mistakes. You need to learn from your mistakes. You need to make sure that you don't do those mistakes again.” 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.

“When your communication is intuitive … that’s what makes EMS an art for me.” This week, our cohosts discuss what makes a good EMT partner and a supportive paramedic mentor. The discussion was inspired by EMT-B Clay Gilman’s recent EMS1 poem submission, “To my medic, from your EMT.” The conversation also touches on: The use of BLS intercepts in place of paramedic intercepts How empowering EMTs can provide staffing relief Why EMTs should be taught to think above all else 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 on Inside EMS, MedStar’s Matt Zavadsky joins the show for the 10th time as a guest host to discuss potential changes to how the organization operates in the City of Fort Worth … as well as a change to Zavadsky’s personal career path. The pair also discuss: The four options on the table for transforming MedStar What a MedStar change means for the 13 surrounding cities it serves How the economics of EMS have changed since the pandemic 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.

“We wanted to build something to solve the problem and help the paramedic, not hinder them.” Clive Savacool, CEO and founder of LogRx, joins the podcast this week to discuss preventing drug diversion/theft. Host Christ Cebollero and Savacool discuss: Who sets the tone for compliance accountability in an EMS organization The practice of gatekeeping narcotics from “drug seekers” Modernizing documentation practices to increase accuracy The LogRx smartphone platform and solution for tracking narcotics and other drugs This episode of the Inside EMS Podcast is sponsored by LogRx. Learn a better way to track your narcotics at LogRx.com.

Inside EMS cohosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson delve into a legal case out of New Jersey in this week’s episode, in which law enforcement officers and EMS providers were recently charged with the in-custody, in-ambulance death of a patient under the influence of bath salts. The discussion also discusses a similar incident out of Colorado in which two paramedics and a police officer were convicted in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain after he was injected with ketamine. Chris and Kelly share vulnerable moments from their careers when they regret not advocating for their patient in the face of law enforcement actions, plus we dig into all this: The growing legal scrutiny of EMS practices How to use de-escalation techniques to mitigate contentious situations with law enforcement partners The ethical responsibilities of EMS providers This episode of the Inside EMS Podcast is sponsored by LogRx. Learn a better way to track your narcotics at LogRx.com.

“Sometimes we made decisions and wound up getting corrective action where maybe a culture of coaching would have taught me to grow.” Kelly Grayson puts the spotlight on fellow cohost Chris Cebollero this week as the pair discuss whether progressive discipline still has a place in EMS or if a move to a culture of coaching, as written about extensively by Chris, would have a more positive impact on retention rates, turnover, burnout and overall career satisfaction. Top quotes “Experience comes from mistakes and mistakes come from lack of experience.” – Chris Cebollero "I've gotten enough progressive discipline, enough paper that I can wallpaper a small closet." – Chris Cebollero “This isn’t about me wanting to fire you. This is about me wanting to make you the very best that you can be.” – Chris Cebollero This episode of the Inside EMS Podcast is sponsored by LogRx. Learn a better way to track your narcotics at LogRx.com.

“Sometimes we make a decision, and it snowballs.” Our cohosts get vulnerable on this episode of the Inside EMS podcast, sharing times in their career when they suffered from cascade bias – using incorrect supplied or assumed information, which led to mistakes that compounded to the detriment of the patient. Have you experienced this in your career? Plus, we dig into all this: How to enhance your decision-making skills during times of uncertainty Which U.S. Air Force acronym can help with bias reassessment How experience can work against providers when it comes to bias This episode of the Inside EMS Podcast is sponsored by LogRx. Learn a better way to track your narcotics at LogRx.com.

This week our cohosts are talking about everyone’s favorite activity: public speaking. While you may not love talking to a crowd, knowing how to effectively deliver a presentation is not just for leaders. Providers at all levels should know how to communicate on a complex topic to a group of people. And who knows more about expounding on complex EMS topics than Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson? The pair highlight their extensive experience as educators and industry speakers, discussing: The key components of effective public speaking How to make presentations more dynamic Why you should be intimately familiar with your material Tips and tricks for new public speakers This episode of the Inside EMS Podcast is sponsored by LogRx. Learn a better way to track your narcotics at LogRx.com.

In this week’s episode of the Inside EMS podcast, host Chris Cebollero and guest host Rob Lawrence delve into the dynamics of EMS leadership, legislative challenges and the pursuit of better reimbursement practices for EMS services. The conversation also digs into EMS on the Hill Day and how providers can impact legislation through advocacy. Memorable quotes "We say, 'When is someone going to do something?' And really, the charge is, 'When is everyone going to step up and do something?'" — Chris Cebollero "We have to battle hard to increase our reimbursement, which therefore equates to income, which therefore equates to wages. It's not a case about we all want to go home in a Rolls-Royce.” — Rob Lawrence "To get things done in EMS, we actually have to be good at convincing our locally elected officials." — Rob Lawrence "The power of the folk out there, when they put their uniform on, when they get in front of these elected officials, is absolute." — Rob Lawrence This episode of the Inside EMS Podcast is sponsored by LogRx. Learn a better way to track your narcotics at LogRx.com.

Chris Cebollero is flying solo on this episode of Inside EMS as he details the impact of authenticity and integrity in EMS. Through anecdotes and insights, he illustrates how credibility influences leadership effectiveness, team trust and the reputation of the EMS profession. Memorable quotes “EMS is a very egotistical business; it’s the egotism that keeps us from asking ‘why?’” “Experiences come from mistakes and mistakes come from a lack of experience.” “Never allow your emotions to dictate your actions.” About the sponsor This episode of the Inside EMS Podcast is sponsored by LogRx. Learn a better way to track your narcotics at LogRx.com.