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EMS 20/20

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EMS 20/20 is podcast hosted by two experienced Paramedics. Spencer Oliver and Christopher Pfingsten discuss real calls run by real responders and pull out the lessons you won't find in a text book. This podcast is aimed at Paramedic students, seasoned Paramedics looking to refresh, or any one interested in a deeper dive into pre-hospital health care.
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EMS 20/20 is podcast hosted by two experienced Paramedics. Spencer Oliver and Christopher Pfingsten discuss real calls run by real responders and pull out the lessons you won't find in a text book. This podcast is aimed at Paramedic students, seasoned Paramedics looking to refresh, or any one interested in a deeper dive into pre-hospital health care.
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Episodes

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Published 2022-10-26

The Bourne Lift Assist

113 min
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Chris and Spence are joined by Dr. Ritu Sahni and Mike Verkest of the EMS Show! Have a listen to this uplifting cross over episode that suffers from a little bit of title confusion.
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Chris and Spence are joined by Dr. Ritu Sahni and Mike Verkest of the EMS Show! Have a listen to this uplifting cross over episode that suffers from a little bit of title confusion.
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Published 2022-10-12

G.I. Joe!

90 min
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The guys go to battle with Snake Eyes and Duke against the evils of confirmation bias and... coffee grounds? Have a listen and see what goes right (and wrong) in this week's episode!
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The guys go to battle with Snake Eyes and Duke against the evils of confirmation bias and... coffee grounds? Have a listen and see what goes right (and wrong) in this week's episode!
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Published 2022-09-28

Falling into Hypoglycemia

104 min
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A patient is found in the bottom of a flooded ditch and the only thing lower than their temperature is their blood sugar... a crew navigates a call that could go in any direction. Do they choose the right path? Listen and find out!
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A patient is found in the bottom of a flooded ditch and the only thing lower than their temperature is their blood sugar... a crew navigates a call that could go in any direction. Do they choose the right path? Listen and find out!
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Published 2022-09-14

What's in the Salad? (AMS)

100 min
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In these week's episode, Spencer and Chris pick apart a BLS call with really, really weird symptoms. Chris is put through the gauntlet as he tries to figure out what's causing the patient's odd behavior. Spoiler: Chris fails.
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In these week's episode, Spencer and Chris pick apart a BLS call with really, really weird symptoms. Chris is put through the gauntlet as he tries to figure out what's causing the patient's odd behavior. Spoiler: Chris fails.
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Published 2022-09-01

Severus Arterious!

99 min
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SORRY FOR THE DELAY! BLAME CHRIS! The guys review a call with a patient that needs just a touch of magic to a large neck wound. Was the crew able to cast the right spell? Listen and find out!
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SORRY FOR THE DELAY! BLAME CHRIS! The guys review a call with a patient that needs just a touch of magic to a large neck wound. Was the crew able to cast the right spell? Listen and find out!
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Published 2022-08-17

Drop It Like It's Hot

101 min
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With help from gravity, two EMT's find themselves doing the one thing we swore to never do. Is today's episode a master class in recovery, or did the crew grab shovels and dig even deeper? Listen to find out as Spencer dishes out the story and Chris rants about naming medical conditions after people.
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With help from gravity, two EMT's find themselves doing the one thing we swore to never do. Is today's episode a master class in recovery, or did the crew grab shovels and dig even deeper? Listen to find out as Spencer dishes out the story and Chris rants about naming medical conditions after people.
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Published 2022-08-03

The Request For Calcium Is Denied

95 min
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On today's episode Spencer and Chris exam a broken system and some broken... Calcium Channels? A sweetly named crew takes on an overdose! Do they succeed? Listen and find out!
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On today's episode Spencer and Chris exam a broken system and some broken... Calcium Channels? A sweetly named crew takes on an overdose! Do they succeed? Listen and find out!
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Published 2022-07-06

worst. chaser. ever.

71 min
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EPISODE 100!!! The guys follow the ups and downs of a call that gets some rarely used, but often talked about treatments. Did the guys learn something new? Will you? Listen and find out!
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EPISODE 100!!! The guys follow the ups and downs of a call that gets some rarely used, but often talked about treatments. Did the guys learn something new? Will you? Listen and find out!
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Published 2022-06-22

Fight and Flight

96 min
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The guys get to talk about helicopters and weather and flight things in today's episode where a flight crew walks in on a call at a local ER that is being run perfectly. They have very little to add and things go smoothly. Except the opposite. Can they ultimately put the pieces of the puzzle back together to help this patient? Listen and find out!
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The guys get to talk about helicopters and weather and flight things in today's episode where a flight crew walks in on a call at a local ER that is being run perfectly. They have very little to add and things go smoothly. Except the opposite. Can they ultimately put the pieces of the puzzle back together to help this patient? Listen and find out!
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Published 2022-06-08

Lawsagna

142 min
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Chris and Spencer bring on Samantha (a REAL LAWYER!) and Nick from the Standard of Care podcast for a call that is plagued with legal complications. An EMT is put in the awkward position of taking a patient that may not want to go to the hospital. We touch on everything from justified assault to kidnapping to false imprisonment and more! Chris suspects that a lasagna is the root of the problem, further highlighting the need for the guys to bring in people who know what they are talking about.
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Chris and Spencer bring on Samantha (a REAL LAWYER!) and Nick from the Standard of Care podcast for a call that is plagued with legal complications. An EMT is put in the awkward position of taking a patient that may not want to go to the hospital. We touch on everything from justified assault to kidnapping to false imprisonment and more! Chris suspects that a lasagna is the root of the problem, further highlighting the need for the guys to bring in people who know what they are talking about.
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Published 2022-05-25

Altered LOC Quest

79 min
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Chris and Spencer make an attempt to unravel the mystery behind an altered level of consciousness and more importantly, they try to figure what to (and not to) do about it.
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Chris and Spencer make an attempt to unravel the mystery behind an altered level of consciousness and more importantly, they try to figure what to (and not to) do about it.
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With deep, full bodied flavors of trauma and some light herbal notes of scene management during an MCI, the guys pour you a glass of wine to... decompress with.
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With deep, full bodied flavors of trauma and some light herbal notes of scene management during an MCI, the guys pour you a glass of wine to... decompress with.
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Published 2022-04-27

Boldly Going (To The Birthing Center)

90 min
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Spencer and Chris Boldly examine a call that occurs in a birthing center where a patient is hypotensive for obvious reasons... or are they?
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Spencer and Chris Boldly examine a call that occurs in a birthing center where a patient is hypotensive for obvious reasons... or are they?
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Published 2022-04-13

Overdosed on AMS

88 min
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Spencer and Chris try to stay with a crew as they wind down the treacherous rabbit hole that is an altered mental status patient. Do they take the wrong path? In short... probably, but listen and find out why they go where they go on this week's episode!
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Spencer and Chris try to stay with a crew as they wind down the treacherous rabbit hole that is an altered mental status patient. Do they take the wrong path? In short... probably, but listen and find out why they go where they go on this week's episode!
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Published 2022-03-30

Do Not Resuscitate The 80's

102 min
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You ever want to intubate someone, but they tell you no? Chris swears a little less (barely) in today's episode that examines DNR's, POLST forms, and inaccurate SaO2 probes. We also get another rant from Chris!
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You ever want to intubate someone, but they tell you no? Chris swears a little less (barely) in today's episode that examines DNR's, POLST forms, and inaccurate SaO2 probes. We also get another rant from Chris!
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Published 2022-03-16

Bill and Bob's Excellent Misadventure

99 min
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Spencer and Chris go on a crazy adventure as they explore the choices made by Bill and Bob, two partners taking care of a patient that either stayed on or fell off the wagon... with a hard thud. Is it trauma? Is it alcohol? Did they miss something? Listen and find out on this week's episode!
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Spencer and Chris go on a crazy adventure as they explore the choices made by Bill and Bob, two partners taking care of a patient that either stayed on or fell off the wagon... with a hard thud. Is it trauma? Is it alcohol? Did they miss something? Listen and find out on this week's episode!
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Published 2022-03-09

The Queen's Gambit

117 min
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The guy's review a call where the patient is deep trouble long before anyone arrives. In one of our longer and more serious episodes, the guy's talk about what it means to lead a call and how to talk to family members when things aren't going well.
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The guy's review a call where the patient is deep trouble long before anyone arrives. In one of our longer and more serious episodes, the guy's talk about what it means to lead a call and how to talk to family members when things aren't going well.
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Published 2022-03-02

Never Ending Plot Twists

75 min
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The guys are given a call that takes place in a precarious system with a patient that has no memory... and a never ending stream of twists and turns that take this call from "eh" to WTF in a hurry.
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The guys are given a call that takes place in a precarious system with a patient that has no memory... and a never ending stream of twists and turns that take this call from "eh" to WTF in a hurry.
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Published 2022-02-23

Is This Even Legal?

74 min
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On this weeks episode a very sick patient is taken to the hospital... but do issues of patient abandonment arise when a Paramedic refused to be the primary provider? Listen to this weeks call and find out if Spencer and Chris can close the case.
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On this weeks episode a very sick patient is taken to the hospital... but do issues of patient abandonment arise when a Paramedic refused to be the primary provider? Listen to this weeks call and find out if Spencer and Chris can close the case.
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Published 2022-02-16

(Please) Free CO2

127 min
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A crew find a patient that rapidly deteriorates, prompting quick action. Baffling monitor readings are the result, so the Chris and Spence bring in back up: Nicole Johnson, a seasoned ICU RN and host of the Found Down podcast join the team to figure out some crazy numbers in one of our biggest episodes yet!
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A crew find a patient that rapidly deteriorates, prompting quick action. Baffling monitor readings are the result, so the Chris and Spence bring in back up: Nicole Johnson, a seasoned ICU RN and host of the Found Down podcast join the team to figure out some crazy numbers in one of our biggest episodes yet!
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Published 2022-02-09

Never Tell Me The Odds!

61 min
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In an-almost-Valentines-Day special, the guys pick a part a call that has some unusual possibilities for symptoms that started during unusual circumstances that results in an unusual diagnosis. Can the guys shed any light on this unusual episode?
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In an-almost-Valentines-Day special, the guys pick a part a call that has some unusual possibilities for symptoms that started during unusual circumstances that results in an unusual diagnosis. Can the guys shed any light on this unusual episode?
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Published 2022-01-26

STEMTRAUMI

114 min
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A drunk patient decides that a new Paramedic and their partner need a one stop shop for possible problems, and they absolutely deliver. But do Chris and Spencer deliver on the education? Listen and find out!
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A drunk patient decides that a new Paramedic and their partner need a one stop shop for possible problems, and they absolutely deliver. But do Chris and Spencer deliver on the education? Listen and find out!
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Published 2022-01-19

Stay Frosty

106 min
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Chris (finally) brings a call that involved an upside down truck, a frozen patient, and a frozen crew... at least when it comes to deciding on exactly what to do! Do they ever figure it out? Listen and find out!
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Chris (finally) brings a call that involved an upside down truck, a frozen patient, and a frozen crew... at least when it comes to deciding on exactly what to do! Do they ever figure it out? Listen and find out!
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Published 2022-01-12

Ambulance Ambush

104 min
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A crew of three Paramedics finds themselves in a situation that no responder ever wants to be in when a patient goes Super Saiyan. Medicate? Evacuate? Also, Chris questions the validity of checking for painful stimuli and challenges the internet... will he regret it?
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A crew of three Paramedics finds themselves in a situation that no responder ever wants to be in when a patient goes Super Saiyan. Medicate? Evacuate? Also, Chris questions the validity of checking for painful stimuli and challenges the internet... will he regret it?
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Published 2022-01-05

The Devil Wears 5.11

110 min
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This week's episode features a simpler call that absolutely has some clinical errors in it... but are they a result of a bad partnership? Which is more toxic: the patient or the work environment? Listen and find out in this intense episode of EMS 20/20!
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This week's episode features a simpler call that absolutely has some clinical errors in it... but are they a result of a bad partnership? Which is more toxic: the patient or the work environment? Listen and find out in this intense episode of EMS 20/20!
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Published 2021-12-22

The Usual Suspects

101 min
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In the 80th Episode of EMS 20/20, a car crash leads to a highly symptomatic patient... but why? Is it trauma, or was there a medical event that caused the crash? Is it both? Be sure to view the EKG on our social media and see if you can figure it out before we do!
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In the 80th Episode of EMS 20/20, a car crash leads to a highly symptomatic patient... but why? Is it trauma, or was there a medical event that caused the crash? Is it both? Be sure to view the EKG on our social media and see if you can figure it out before we do!
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Published 2021-12-15

Respiratory "S" Word Virus

104 min
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Spencer and Chris dive into a call where parental controls are in play as a pediatric patient struggles to breathe. How do you both treat a patient and calm scared parents? Listen and find out!
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Spencer and Chris dive into a call where parental controls are in play as a pediatric patient struggles to breathe. How do you both treat a patient and calm scared parents? Listen and find out!
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Published 2021-12-08

It Won't Stop Bleeding

99 min
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Like a leaky faucet, a patient's leg has sprung a leak and a BLS crew does their best to stop the out of control flow. Do they dam the river? Find out on this week's episode!
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Like a leaky faucet, a patient's leg has sprung a leak and a BLS crew does their best to stop the out of control flow. Do they dam the river? Find out on this week's episode!
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Published 2021-12-01

Hit or Stay?

98 min
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LISTENER FEEDBACK WANTED! A crew has to make a hard choice... stay and play or load and go? With a rapidly closing window to make a hard decision does the crew make the right choice? Spence and Chris give their opinions and ask for yours in this weeks episode!
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LISTENER FEEDBACK WANTED! A crew has to make a hard choice... stay and play or load and go? With a rapidly closing window to make a hard decision does the crew make the right choice? Spence and Chris give their opinions and ask for yours in this weeks episode!
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Published 2021-11-24

Interpersonal Transfer

79 min
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This week's call takes us to a chaotic and tense ER as a crew picks up a very sick patient to transfer them to a higher level of care. Interpersonal Communication takes center stage in this episode as Chris and Spencer play counselor.
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This week's call takes us to a chaotic and tense ER as a crew picks up a very sick patient to transfer them to a higher level of care. Interpersonal Communication takes center stage in this episode as Chris and Spencer play counselor.
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Published 2021-11-10

Tough Crowd

130 min
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Caught between quelling both a grumpy crowd and an unruly airway, a group of Care Bears are faced with problems from every angle. Do they prevail? Could they have prevailed? The guys go the distance to find out in this weeks episode!
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Caught between quelling both a grumpy crowd and an unruly airway, a group of Care Bears are faced with problems from every angle. Do they prevail? Could they have prevailed? The guys go the distance to find out in this weeks episode!
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Published 2021-11-03

Suspicious Heartache

90 min
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A patient presents with classic signs of a heart attack... but is it? Spencer attempts to stump Chris (and possibly succeeds) in this weeks episode! Also... Chris tees off on physicians with Dr. House Syndrome ;)
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A patient presents with classic signs of a heart attack... but is it? Spencer attempts to stump Chris (and possibly succeeds) in this weeks episode! Also... Chris tees off on physicians with Dr. House Syndrome ;)
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Published 2021-10-27

Venti Sized Suckage

62 min
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A Paramedic orders a Grande but ends up with a Venti sized problem on their hands. The guys try to answer one question: is there such a thing as too much coffee?
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A Paramedic orders a Grande but ends up with a Venti sized problem on their hands. The guys try to answer one question: is there such a thing as too much coffee?
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Published 2021-10-20

Should I Touch It?

90 min
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A patient with a OW troubling and painOWful experience is treated by a OW crew OW that may be jumping to conclusions. Can our hosts offer up some sage advice without making too many Star Trek references? Can a patients implanted defibrillator shock you? Listen and find out!
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A patient with a OW troubling and painOWful experience is treated by a OW crew OW that may be jumping to conclusions. Can our hosts offer up some sage advice without making too many Star Trek references? Can a patients implanted defibrillator shock you? Listen and find out!
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Published 2021-10-13

Indiana Jonesing

89 min
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A young patient is mentally stranded in space as a crew tries their best to figure out what, if anything could be wrong with this patient. Is it drugs? Is it a stroke? Listen and find out!
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A young patient is mentally stranded in space as a crew tries their best to figure out what, if anything could be wrong with this patient. Is it drugs? Is it a stroke? Listen and find out!
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Published 2021-10-06

The Devil's Lettuce

78 min
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In our 70th episode we talk about a call with a very difficult and vibrating (yes, vibrating) patient that is paired with a difficult partner. Just how bad can imitation marijuana be? Listen and find out!
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In our 70th episode we talk about a call with a very difficult and vibrating (yes, vibrating) patient that is paired with a difficult partner. Just how bad can imitation marijuana be? Listen and find out!
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Published 2021-09-29

Drinking with a Broken Heart

79 min
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In today's episode we learn that Chris cannot take a scooter seriously as the guys analyze the treatment of a patient with an incredibly rare condition!
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In today's episode we learn that Chris cannot take a scooter seriously as the guys analyze the treatment of a patient with an incredibly rare condition!
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Published 2021-09-22

Fuster Cluck

87 min
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An EMT Advanced finds themselves helming a call that just cannot seem to take a right turn. Can Spence and Chris spot the problem(s)? Have a listen and let us know what you think! Do you want to get FREE CE credits for listening? EMS 20/20 is teaming up with Guardian Test Prep to make it happen. Head over to www.guardiancme.com and add your name to the mailing list ASAP. We will tell you the second you are able to get free CE credits for listening to EMS 20/20 and we won't spam your inbox.
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An EMT Advanced finds themselves helming a call that just cannot seem to take a right turn. Can Spence and Chris spot the problem(s)? Have a listen and let us know what you think! Do you want to get FREE CE credits for listening? EMS 20/20 is teaming up with Guardian Test Prep to make it happen. Head over to www.guardiancme.com and add your name to the mailing list ASAP. We will tell you the second you are able to get free CE credits for listening to EMS 20/20 and we won't spam your inbox.
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Published 2021-09-15

Flying or Lying?

76 min
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In this weeks episode the guys run through a call about trust and helicopters in our first ever call from a Flight Paramedic! Can our crew sort out the truth before committing limited resources to a patient? Listen and find out!
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In this weeks episode the guys run through a call about trust and helicopters in our first ever call from a Flight Paramedic! Can our crew sort out the truth before committing limited resources to a patient? Listen and find out!
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Published 2021-09-08

Dead Versus Half Dead

69 min
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A crew of responders finds themselves evacuating a hoarder home after finding one body and one patient who is really trying to be a body. Listen in to this weeks episode to see if this cluster of a call could have been changed for the better!
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A crew of responders finds themselves evacuating a hoarder home after finding one body and one patient who is really trying to be a body. Listen in to this weeks episode to see if this cluster of a call could have been changed for the better!
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Published 2021-09-01

PB and Code

83 min
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Spencer brings a code with a very sticky problem while Chris brings unrelated science. Listen and find out if Chris and Spence can get to the bottom of this harrowing call.
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Spencer brings a code with a very sticky problem while Chris brings unrelated science. Listen and find out if Chris and Spence can get to the bottom of this harrowing call.
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Published 2021-08-25

Diagnosis: Everything

101 min
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In what may be our longest episode to date, Spencer and Chris tackle a call in which a patient has... everything. They have everything. So what can one do with so many paths to take? Listen and find out on this weeks epic episode!
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In what may be our longest episode to date, Spencer and Chris tackle a call in which a patient has... everything. They have everything. So what can one do with so many paths to take? Listen and find out on this weeks epic episode!
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Published 2021-08-18

Ego Contusion

80 min
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This time Spencer takes a swing at making a double episode as Chris tries to spot a common theme. Sometimes calls can be so easy they're hard. Have a listen and see if you can guess what gets missed before the guys do!
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This time Spencer takes a swing at making a double episode as Chris tries to spot a common theme. Sometimes calls can be so easy they're hard. Have a listen and see if you can guess what gets missed before the guys do!
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Published 2021-08-11

Fast and Furious (and Futile?)

77 min
View
A patient continues to slide downhill while an ambulance crew acts quickly to stop the decline... but can they? Could they have? Listen this week as the guys go through a difficult pediatric call to try and find some answers.
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A patient continues to slide downhill while an ambulance crew acts quickly to stop the decline... but can they? Could they have? Listen this week as the guys go through a difficult pediatric call to try and find some answers.
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Published 2021-08-04

It Takes Two To Trauma

89 min
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In this weeks episode Chris brings not one, but two trauma calls! The guys delve into common injury masks as well as the ever present backboard controversy.
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In this weeks episode Chris brings not one, but two trauma calls! The guys delve into common injury masks as well as the ever present backboard controversy.
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Published 2021-07-28

Shouldering the Weight of the World

102 min
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A Paramedic shoulders the weight of a hectic call. Sedation, Intubation, Ventilation, Defibrillation, Exasperation... all the ations are present in this weeks absolutely epic episode!
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A Paramedic shoulders the weight of a hectic call. Sedation, Intubation, Ventilation, Defibrillation, Exasperation... all the ations are present in this weeks absolutely epic episode!
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Published 2021-07-21

A Secret Crush

87 min
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A 700 pound patient just needs a hand up... or at least that's what this weeks crew were hoping for. We'll hold the spoilers, but this call tips the scales when it comes to twists, turns, and diagnosis.
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A 700 pound patient just needs a hand up... or at least that's what this weeks crew were hoping for. We'll hold the spoilers, but this call tips the scales when it comes to twists, turns, and diagnosis.
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Published 2021-07-14

Narcan Needs A Break

54 min
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A pair of medics take on a call with a pretty straight forward history with what should have been a pretty straight forward solution. But this is EMS 20/20...
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A pair of medics take on a call with a pretty straight forward history with what should have been a pretty straight forward solution. But this is EMS 20/20...
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Published 2021-07-08

Drowning In Uncertainty

73 min
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WTF is wrong with this patient... is the perfect way to introduce today's episode! A seemingly basic call turns into a near death experience that is saved by... a pothole?
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WTF is wrong with this patient... is the perfect way to introduce today's episode! A seemingly basic call turns into a near death experience that is saved by... a pothole?
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256
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