Send a text

Why are so many EMS providers exhausted—even when they “sleep”? Why does stress feel constant, recovery impossible, and burnout unavoidable?

In this episode of EMSconnect On Shift, we’re joined by Haley Scellick, ARNP from First Responder Health and Wellness to break down what’s really happening inside the bodies of first responders. We dive into chronic fatigue, cortisol dysregulation, sleep disruption, and hormone imbalance, and explain why feeling “wired but tired” is not just part of the job—it’s a warning sign.

Haley explains how shift work, repeated stress exposure, and poor recovery disrupt cortisol rhythms, suppress testosterone, impair sleep, and quietly increase long-term health risks for EMS providers. We also tackle common misconceptions, why “normal labs” don’t always mean a healthy provider, and how caffeine, overtraining, and tough-it-out culture can make things worse.

Most importantly, this episode focuses on realistic, actionable strategies EMS providers can actually use—without quitting the job or chasing perfect sleep.

If you’ve ever felt exhausted, burned out, short-tempered, foggy, or just not like yourself anymore… this episode is for you.

🎧 Topics include:

• Chronic fatigue vs. normal job stress
• Cortisol and shift work
• Sleep myths in EMS culture
• Testosterone and hormone suppression
• When to seek testing and real help
• Practical steps to protect your health on and off shift

Because being tired shouldn’t be the cost of saving lives.

🎙️ Guest Information: Haley Scellick, ARNP - First Responder Health and Wellness

Supplements: https://www.firstresponderhealth.net/

First Responder Health and wellness on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565005384987

Support the show

🔗 EMSconnect – All Social Media & Resources

👉 https://linktr.ee/EMSconnect

Send us a text

Poisonings and overdoses are a growing portion of EMS calls, and rapid recognition can mean the difference between life and death. Toxicology 101 is designed to give BLS providers a practical, field-focused approach to identifying and managing common toxidromes. This course breaks down the five core toxidromes, common substances involved, key assessment findings, and critical BLS interventions.

Support the show

🔗 EMSconnect – All Social Media & Resources

👉 https://linktr.ee/EMSconnect

Send us a text

In this episode of EMSconnect On Shift, we sit down with Patrick Pianezza, former Paramedic and Writer of the film Code 3, for an honest, inside look at telling EMS stories from someone who has actually lived them.

Patrick shares how his time on the streets shaped the characters, calls, and emotional weight of Code 3, why authenticity matters when portraying EMS on screen, and how cumulative stress, burnout, dark humor, and identity all find their way into the story. We talk about the calls that stay with you, the parts of the job the public never sees, and what it’s like to step away from the uniform while still serving the EMS community in a different way.

LISTEN to all of "The Fractured Saints" here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4TLc8SGP9pX4MaaLz1b8TW?si=8gFJ-mMHRyCQTClDVzKjHA

Support the show

🔗 EMSconnect – All Social Media & Resources

👉 https://linktr.ee/EMSconnect

Send us a text

Join Shaun Pitts on EMSconnect On Shift as he sits down with Dr. Travis Dierks for an essential deep dive into ECG interpretation. Whether you’re an EMT, paramedic, or just looking to strengthen your cardiac knowledge, this episode breaks down rhythm strips and ECG fundamentals in a clear, practical way.

Dr. Dierks shares expert tips for identifying key patterns, avoiding common pitfalls, and translating what you see on the monitor into confident, real-world patient care decisions. By the end of this episode, you’ll be more confident reading those strips, spotting critical rhythms, and understanding the story behind the ECG.

Tune in, sharpen your skills, and learn to truly read between the lines.

LISTEN to all of "The Fractured Saints" here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4TLc8SGP9pX4MaaLz1b8TW?si=8gFJ-mMHRyCQTClDVzKjHA

Support the show

🔗 EMSconnect – All Social Media & Resources

👉 https://linktr.ee/EMSconnect

Send us a text

In this episode of EMSconnect On Shift, we sit down with Ian—a seasoned paramedic and flight clinician whose journey started with Ada County Paramedics back in 2012. After earning his paramedic certification in 2014, Ian set his sights on the sky, launching his flight career in 2018. Since then, he’s flown with several programs, spending four years with Air Idaho Rescue in Driggs before joining Air St. Luke’s, where he has been flying for the past three years.

With extensive rotor-wing experience and a solid foundation in fixed-wing operations, Ian brings a wealth of critical care flight knowledge to the table. He currently holds his FP-C, NREMT-P, NRP, and a stack of specialized certifications that reflect his dedication to the craft.

Ian is particularly passionate about pediatric care—a population he believes many EMS providers feel less comfortable managing. He’s committed to closing that confidence gap and elevating prehospital pediatric care across the board.

Join us as we dive into all things flight and critical care: pediatrics, trauma, pediatric trauma, non-accidental traumas, and even the roadmap for medics or nurses who dream of taking their careers to the air. Whether you’re on the ground or in the rotor wash, this conversation is packed with insight, inspiration, and real-world experience.

MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4TLc8SGP9pX4MaaLz1b8TW?si=DjgPPMQJRDWH7tF6U3UV_A

Support the show

🔗 EMSconnect – All Social Media & Resources

👉 https://linktr.ee/EMSconnect

Send us a text

In this essential pre-clinical briefing, veteran educator and field provider Shaun Pitts breaks down the mindset, expectations, and professional habits every EMT student needs before stepping onto an ambulance or walking into a clinical site. This episode is designed to be listened to before your first ride-along and revisited before every shift throughout your training.

Shaun lays out the concept of your Clinical Compass—the internal framework that keeps you oriented when the real world gets loud, messy, and unpredictable. Students will learn how to prepare mentally and practically for ride-time, how to work with crews and FTOs, how to approach patients with confidence and humility, and how to make the most of every call, even the quiet ones.

Perfect for:
• EMT students heading into clinicals or first ride-time
• FTOs who want a consistent, high-quality onboarding message
• Agencies looking to set clear expectations for student behavior, professionalism, and safety

Whether you’re gearing up for your very first call or building strong foundations for a career in EMS, this episode gives you the tools to show up prepared, present, and ride-time ready.

MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4TLc8SGP9pX4MaaLz1b8TW

Support the show

🔗 EMSconnect – All Social Media & Resources

👉 https://linktr.ee/EMSconnect

Send us a text

In this episode of EMSconnect On Shift, Quinn dives deep into one of the most common and critical calls in prehospital care: respiratory emergencies. From asthma and COPD to CHF and pneumonia, Quinn breaks down the “Big 4” respiratory issues every EMS provider encounters and explores how to assess, treat, and manage these patients at the BLS level.

Join us as we review key anatomy and physiology, discuss how to recognize respiratory distress before it becomes failure or arrest, and walk through scenario-based learning that challenges your clinical thinking. Whether it’s setting up oxygen delivery systems, assisting with MDIs, or knowing when to call for ALS, this episode reinforces the importance of calm, calculated care when every breath counts.

💨 Topics include:

• The difference between respiratory distress, failure, and arrest
• BLS interventions and patient positioning
• Effective use of oxygen, CPAP, and bronchodilators
• Managing patient comfort and avoiding exertion
• Scenario breakdowns that sharpen your assessment skills

As always, remember to follow your local and state protocols, and keep expanding your knowledge—because in EMS, the learning never stops.

Support the show

🔗 EMSconnect – All Social Media & Resources

👉 https://linktr.ee/EMSconnect

Send us a text

Seizures don’t follow the rules—and in the prehospital setting, neither can you. Join Dr. Maika Dang, Emergency Medicine Physician and EMS Medical Director, as he unpacks the unpredictable world of seizure emergencies in this dynamic and engaging webinar.

From subtle partial seizures to full-blown status epilepticus, EMS providers are often the first on scene during some of the most chaotic moments in a patient’s life. This course goes beyond textbook definitions to provide real-world guidance on:
-Recognizing and managing different seizure types in the field
-Critical decision-making in prolonged or recurrent seizures
-Differentiating seizure mimics from true neurologic events
-Best practices for airway, medication, and transport considerations
-Post-ictal challenges and when “something doesn’t feel right”

Whether you’re new to the field or a seasoned medic, this webinar will sharpen your seizure scene management skills and prepare you for the next time a brain "short-circuits."

Don’t miss it—this is seizure care for the chaos you actually face.

Support the show

🔗 EMSconnect – All Social Media & Resources

👉 https://linktr.ee/EMSconnect