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Make Alexa your Ambulance Partner

On a whim – which I rarely have – I purchased the Amazon Echo device through a Prime member pre-purchase offer. I have been enamored with Alexa ever since setting up the device in my kitchen and regularly imagine Alexa (or Google or Siri) as an ambulance partner. Those day dreams, along with everyday use […]

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Yes, EMS Responds to Opioid Overdoses

EMS has been on the frontlines of the opioid overdose epidemic. Long before presidential candidates, national news outlets, and U.S. Senators were discussing the scope of the epidemic and the billions of dollars needed to reverse overdoses, provide treatment and stem the flow of legal and legal narcotics EMS was treating overdose patients. Long after […]

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Incredibly Sad

New article posted to EMS1. We didn’t need another tragic reminder of the danger of EMS

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EMS Week Interest Peaks Once a Year

Google search trends graph for interest in EMS Week. No surprise that interest in EMS peaks once a year. This year’s EMS Week theme is “Always in Service.” Read what I think that means EMS Week 2017: What it means to be ‘Always in Service’

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Health and Wellness

Just short of 5 million steps

I wear a Garmin Vivoactive to track my steps while walking and running. I have been tracking my steps since May of 2013 and pay attention to my daily, weekly and monthly step count. Recently I have begun to ponder my 12-month step count with a goal of 5 million steps. From May 1, 2016 […]

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EMS Education Tips

How to Pass the NREMT

Passing the NREMT starts with taking responsibility for your own learning. Choose success. To achieve success, do the work throughout the course: Go to class and sit in the front row Ask your teacher questions, but never ask “Do we need to know this for the test?” Read the textbook before class Take notes Review […]

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Jesse H. Neal Award for Best Profile

Stabbed on duty: A medic’s lessons learned on the long road back was recognized with a 2017 Jesse H. Neal award for best profile article. The Neal award is a terrific individual honor. More importantly the recognition increases awareness of the dangers EMTs and paramedics face on the job. Founded in 1955, the Jesse H. […]

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Podcast: Words off the Street

Words off the Street podcast is a “discussion with public safety writers.” I was honored to be the guest on episode 12 and speak with host BJ Schneider about writing, the work I do as EMS1 Editor-in-Chief, and more. BJ has also recently interviewed these EMS authors: Michael Morse Jamie Davis Sean Fitzmorris There are a […]

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News and Events

ICYMI: Fake EMS News

Each year at EMS1 we try our hand at fake news on April Fool’s. This year’s offerings (which I may or may not have helped write). Department’s first therapy cat just makes things worse   25-pocket tactical pants drive up demand for useless sh&t to carry EMSEats ambulance meal delivery service flops after rash of disappearing […]

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State Champs

A week ago today my son and his hockey teammates won the Wisconsin Peewee B Hockey championship. It was a great group of kids and we had a lot of fun this season. It was an honor to help coach this group and this puck is prominently displayed in my office. Go Icehawks!