2 hr. Preconference Workshops
Medication Math Made Easy: Calculations That Can Save a Life
Do you struggle with medication math? You’re not alone. This hands-on workshop will simplify the most critical medication calculations for EMS providers, from dosing and drip rates to weight-based medications. Through easy-to-remember techniques, you’ll gain the confidence and skills needed to ensure accuracy in the field. Whether you’re a seasoned provider or new to EMS, this session will sharpen your math game!
At the end of the workshop, the participant will be able to:
- demonstrate proficiency in calculating weight-based, volume-based, and infusion rate drug dosages using standard EMS formulas.
- apply key mathematical formulas used in EMS drug calculations, including dose per kilogram, infusion rates, and concentration conversions.
- develop a strategy to quickly and accurately calculate dosages in high-stress situations, such as pediatric emergencies and cardiac arrests.
- identify common mathematical mistakes in drug calculations and apply strategies to avoid errors that could lead to patient harm.
Keynote sessions
Back to the Plate: The EMS Game Plan for Showing Up, Leveling Up, and Never Striking Out
In baseball, everything begins and ends at home plate—and the same is true in EMS. Through real-world stories, humor, and memorable lessons, participants will explore what it means to step up with confidence, deliver under pressure, recover from setbacks, and keep sight of the bigger picture. Whether you’re a rookie or a seasoned veteran, this session will leave you motivated, recharged, and ready to swing for the save on your very next call.
At the end of this presentation, participant will be able to:
- Describe the five “sides” of home plate (Purpose, Preparation, Performance, Perseverance, and Perspective) as they relate to professional practice in EMS.
- Demonstrate how preparation and decision-making strategies can be applied to improve clinical performance and teamwork during patient care.
- Identify signs of provider stress and burnout and outline strategies for perseverance and resilience in EMS practice.
- Evaluate their personal motivations and career goals to develop a plan for maintaining perspective and leaving a positive legacy in EMS.
Protocol Schmotocol: When Textbook Meets Real Life
Every EMS provider knows that real-world calls don’t always fit neatly into the pages of a textbook. This lively and practical session explores the tension between following protocols and applying clinical judgment in the field. Using case studies, humor, and interactive discussion, we’ll examine when to stick with the book, when to think outside the box, and how to balance patient care, safety, and documentation without losing your sanity.
At the end of this presentation, the participant will be able to:
- Explain the role of protocols in EMS practice and their importance for safety, consistency, and liability.
- Analyze real-world case examples where patient presentations did not align perfectly with protocol pathways.
- Demonstrate strategies for integrating critical thinking and clinical judgment while maintaining protocol compliance.
- Evaluate how to document decision-making effectively when deviations from standard protocols are necessary
The 7 People You Meet in EMS – And How Not to Be One
Every EMS provider has met them—the know-it-all, the shortcut taker, the burnout, and the legend in their own mind. This fun and fast-paced session takes a humorous (but honest) look at personalities that have been known to show up in every station, shift, and service. Through real-world stories and lessons learned, we’ll explore how these behaviors impact teamwork, patient care, and morale—and more importantly, how to avoid becoming “that person” in your own EMS career.
At the end of this presentation, the participant will be able to:
- Identify seven common personality types frequently encountered in the EMS workplace.
- Discuss the potential effects of these behaviors on teamwork, communication, and patient outcomes.
- Recognize personal tendencies that may contribute to negative workplace dynamics.
- Develop strategies to strengthen professionalism, improve collaboration, and avoid becoming one of the “seven people” in their own practice.
Lessons from the Edge: Stories That Shape the Future of EMS
Every EMS provider has faced those moments—the ones that test skill, heart, and resilience at the very edge of chaos. This keynote takes you inside those stories: the near misses, the victories, and the unforgettable calls that leave lasting lessons. We’ll uncover how experiences at the edge don’t just shape us individually but also guide the future of EMS as a profession. Expect to laugh, reflect, and walk away inspired to strengthen your practice, your team, and your passion for the job.
At the end of this presentation, the participant will be able to:
- Identify at least three key lessons learned from high-stakes EMS situations that can be applied to everyday practice.
- Analyze how personal and team responses during critical incidents influence patient outcomes and provider growth.
- Evaluate strategies for turning challenging or traumatic experiences into opportunities for professional resilience and development.
- Apply insights from shared EMS stories to improve decision-making, teamwork, and patient care in their own practice.
Breakout Sessions (range can be from 60 to 90 minutes)
The Sinister Six
As advanced practice providers, we are expected to be able to discern dangerous rhythms on the ECG—such as the dreaded ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Yet, there are a multitude of rhythms that mimic this feared arrhythmia, which are often mistaken for an acute myocardial infarction on the 12-lead ECG. This leads to inappropriate activation of cardiac catheterization lab personnel, as well as inappropriate treatment of patients. This presentation will discuss six commonly misinterpreted STEMI mimics encountered by EMS professionals and help you distinguish between what is real and what is fantasy.
Target Audience: Advanced Providers
After this presentation, the participant will be able to:
- describe the management of various STEMI mimic rhythms.
- explain the Scarbossa and modified Scarbossa criteria.
- discuss how to look for factors that favor an AMI over a STEMI mimic.
- list six common STEMI mimics.
The Baba Yaga Comes a Calling
Two words that strike fear in anyone: John. Wick. An expert with firearms, knives, and even a pencil – when he comes for you, he is the last person you see. But how is he so efficient? What injuries does he inflict that are so fatal? The ability to manage patients with penetrating trauma is enhanced by understanding basic mechanisms of injury rendered by projectiles and hand-driven objects. This presentation will discuss anatomic disruptions, ballistics, and the traumatic mechanisms of the most fatal penetration injuries that we as EMS professionals encounter – all with the goal of optimizing patient outcome.
Target Audience: Can be used for all levels
After this presentation, the participant will be able to:
- explain the physics and ballistics of penetrating trauma.
- distinguish between high, medium, and low-velocity penetration injuries.
- discuss EMS management of a shooting or stabbing victim.
- describe the pathophysiology of various penetrating injuries to the body.
Ventilation vs. Respiration
Counting respirations is part of taking vital signs, right? Wrong! Even though we use this terminology in textbooks, run reports, and verbal handoffs, the proper term is “ventilations”. This session discusses these two physiological processes and how they differ.
NCCR Category: Ventilation
Target Audience: Can be used for all levels
After this presentation, the participant will be able to:
- define ventilation.
- define respiration.
- list three disease processes that can affect ventilation.
- list three disease processes that can affect respiration.
The Danger of Dihydrogen Oxide
Drowning is a common and often preventable cause of death, with significant risk factors that include gender, time of year, lack of supervision, history of epilepsy, and alcohol and drug use. Unfortunately, in the United States, it is the second leading cause of injury-related death among children one to four years old. This presentation follows a real-time case study involving pediatric drowning where pathophysiology, and EMS management are discussed at the basic and advanced levels of care.
Target Audience: Can be used for all levels
After this presentation, the participant shall be able to:
1. describe the management of a drowning victim.
2. explain the pathophysiology of a drowning incident.
3. list the risk factors and mechanisms of drowning.
4. contrast non-fatal and fatal drownings.
That Gut Feeling
You didn’t feel like going to school, so you tried your best to convince your parents that you were just too sick. Faking a stomachache was one of the easiest things to try, and in my case, it usually was effective (sorry, Mom). But what about that patient who truly has abdominal pain? Assessing it is one of the easiest and one of the hardest things to do. Easy, because the exam takes under a minute; hard, because between what you assess and what the patient tells you, you’re left asking a lot of questions: do the symptoms, focused physical exam, and patient history suggest something life-threatening, or more benign? The degree of criticality is determined by getting answers to those questions
Target Audience: All levels
After this presentation, the participant shall be able to:
- list two organs in each of the four abdominal quadrants.
- differentiate between visceral and parietal pain.
- describe referred pain.
- list four common abdominal ailments.
Shaken, Not Stirred
Seizures are a common medical emergency. Most are brief and self-limited – typically stopping on their own in less than a few minutes and present a low risk of patient harm. There are many types of seizures, which range in severity, and vary by where and how they begin in the brain. Astute recognition and aggressive treatment of seizures and related complications is the foundation of prehospital care. This presentation provides an overview of seizure types, origins, causes, and up to date management practices for EMS professionals.
Target Audience: All levels
NCCP Category: Neurological/Seizures
After this presentation, the participant shall be able to:
- differentiate between seizure and status epilepticus.
- discuss various complications related to seizures.
- name three types of seizures.
- list three causes of a seizure.
Unique Patient Signs
Even experienced clinicians can be stumped when a patient presents with multiple signs and symptoms. Diagnosis and treatment are often delayed as a result, especially when these signs and symptoms don’t jive with the patient’s chief complaint. Interestingly, there is a subset of medical terminology known as an eponym – which is any word related to medicine, whose name is derived from a person, usually a physician. Observing these unique “signs” and understanding what they represent can help an EMS professional efficiently differentially diagnose, guide patient management, and make appropriate transport decisions.
Target Audience: All levels
After this presentation, the participant will be able to:
1. define what is an eponym.
2. describe the physical presentation of three unique patient signs.
3. discuss the underlying pathophysiology of three unique signs.
ECG Patterns of High-Risk Syncope
Syncope is a relatively common call for EMS professionals, with a broad range of differential diagnoses from benign issues to life-threatening conditions. Obtaining an ECG should be a key aspect of nearly every syncope workup. When doing so, prompt recognition of a high-risk ECG pattern is a critical skill for paramedics and other EMS personnel to be able to provide the best care possible and deliver a patient to the most appropriate facility in a timely manner.
Target Audience: Advanced providers
After this presentation, the participant will be able to:
- list seven ECG patterns of high-risk syncope.
- describe what is right ventricular strain.
- discuss the dangers of long QT intervals.
- explain the difference between the different types of AV blocks
When Defense Becomes Offense: Navigating Autoimmune Emergencies
A healthy immune system defends the body against disease and infection. But if the immune system malfunctions, it mistakenly attacks healthy cells, tissues, and organs. Called autoimmune disease, these attacks can affect any part of the body, weaken bodily functions, and even turn life-threatening. Most of these diseases have no cure, and some require lifelong management to ease a patient’s symptoms. This presentation will discuss some of the common patients you may encounter and how to best manage their underlying condition.
Target Audience: All providers
After this presentation, the participant will be able to:
1. define autoimmunity.
2. discuss the signs and symptoms of various autoimmune diseases.
3. explain the EMS management of various autoimmune diseases.
4. list three causes of autoimmune diseases.
When Puking Has a Poor Prognosis
Nausea and vomiting are non-specific symptoms of medical illness that are common findings for many patients EMS see every day. And being such a benign sign and symptom, they commonly get ignored while looking for a cause of a patient’s ailment. This presentation discusses some of the more dangerous, possibly fatal conditions that sometimes only manifest as nausea and vomiting.
Target Audience: All providers
After this presentation, the participants will be able to:
- discuss how an accurate patient history helps to differentially diagnose a patient with nausea and vomiting.
- explain the necessity for a thorough review of body systems in a patient with nausea and vomiting.
- list five dangerous underlying medical causes that present with nausea and vomiting.
- describe the management of conditions that present with nausea and vomiting.
Beyond the Baby: Managing Postpartum Emergencies in the Field
Postpartum emergencies often include bleeding, eclampsia, heart failure, and other complications. Failure to recognize and treat these conditions can lead to disastrous consequences for the patient, including shock, permanent brain damage, or death. This presentation will discuss the various types of emergencies to be aware of and how to manage these patients in the pre-hospital environment.
NCCR Category: OB Emergencies
Target Audience: All levels
At the end of this presentation, the participant will be able to:
- explain the pathophysiology and presentation of pre-eclampsia/eclampsia.
- list the differential diagnoses for a patient with a postpartum hemorrhage.
- discuss the basic concept of what is an amniotic fluid embolism.
- describe the development of emboli within a pregnant patient.
Until All the Pieces Fit
As a pre-hospital care provider, on average, you are seven times more likely to encounter a patient diagnosed with autism. It is not one condition, but rather a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and non-verbal communication. As a result, these patients can present to EMS providers with unique assessment and management challenges. This presentation will explain the autism spectrum as well as certain notable characteristics of these patients to consider when performing an assessment and rendering medical treatment.
Target Audience: Can be used for all levels NCCR Category: Special HC Needs
At the end of this presentation, the participant will be able to:
- explain the difference between scripting, parroting, and stimming.
- discuss why EMS is called for an autistic patient.
- explain some of the unique considerations when assessing a patient with autism.
- design a management plan for an autistic patient during an escalation event.
It Ain’t Easy Being Wheezy: Pediatric Status Asthmaticus
Severe asthma has become more prevalent in American children, with mortality rising sharply in the past decade. Any EMS professional may be faced with the asthmatic child in severe respiratory distress or impending respiratory failure, not been relieved with typical bronchodilator therapy. These scary patients require more timely and aggressive treatment than what is usually needed for a typical “shortness of breath” call. This discussion will explain how to properly intervene at the basic and advanced levels of care, to increase the chances of a positive resolution from this continuous, and dangerous, respiratory threat.
Target Audience: All levels
At the end of this presentation, the participant will be able to:
1. discuss the pathophysiology of status asthmaticus in children.
2. discuss the pharmacologic interventions for a child in status asthmaticus.
3. discuss the assessment findings of status asthmatics in children.
4. list the common triggers for an asthma attack.
Thwacks, Whacks, Cracks, and Smacks
Sports-related concussions are serious, widely prevalent, and often under-reported traumatic brain injuries. This presentation discusses the pathophysiology and sequelae of concussion as well as proper identification, evaluation, and patient management. Severe, moderate, and even mild concussions have a high potential for significant long-term deleterious effects on an athlete. Extensive anatomical and physiological damage may be present from just one traumatic blow to the head. Advocating for an athlete to sit out the rest of an event by knowing the signs and symptoms specific to concussion may be the difference between a decent versus a terrible outcome.
Target Audience: Can be used for all levels NCCR Category: CNS Injury
After this presentation, the participant shall be able to:
1. describe the pathophysiology of a concussion.
2. explain the unique considerations when assessing an athlete with possible concussion.
3. list the proper steps in managing a patient that is suffering from a concussion or showing signs of TBI.
4. discuss the various unique signs and symptoms of a concussion.
Cracking the Code: Pediatric Capnography for EMS Providers
This presentation highlights uses for capnography in pediatric patients in the pre-hospital setting. Uses include confirmation of intubation, maintenance of ventilation in intubated and non-intubated children, monitoring of effectiveness of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and as an adjunct for monitoring of sedated children and children with lower respiratory disease, shock and metabolic derangements.
Target Audience: All levels, slightly toward the Advanced level
NCCR Category: Capnography
At the end of this presentation, the participant will be able to:
1. interpret the components of a basic CO2 waveform.
2. describe abnormal or disordered ventilation when monitoring breathing patients, using capnography.
3. identify common waveform morphology during cardiac arrest and resuscitation attempts.
4. identify, using capnography, ET tube displacement, paralysis diminishment, obstruction, and an inadequate seal presence.
Critical Circulation: EMS Essentials for Cardiogenic Shock
Cardiogenic shock is a life-threatening condition that presents a unique challenge in the prehospital setting. In this session, EMS providers will gain a deeper understanding of cardiogenic shock, including its causes, early signs, and differential diagnosis. Attendees will explore the pathophysiology of the condition, effective assessment techniques, and evidence-based interventions that can make the difference in these critical moments. Join us for an informative presentation that will enhance your skills in handling this complex and high-risk condition.
Target Audience: All levels, more toward Advanced
At the end of this presentation, the participant will be able to:
1. define what is cardiogenic shock.
2. explain the pathophysiology behind the development of cardiogenic shock.
3. identify the major components of treatment for a patient in cardiogenic shock.
4. describe the signs and symptoms of a patient that is suffering from cardiogenic shock.
Stretched, Stabbed and Strangled: Traumatic Neck Injuries
Managing injuries to the neck can be both complex and challenging for the pre-hospital provider, as it is the location for many vital structures. Many of these structural injuries carry with them a high probability of morbidity and mortality. Whether the injury is blunt or penetrating, the EMS provider must maintain a high index of suspicion even if the patient appears to have only minor superficial injuries. This presentation will discuss the anatomy of the neck, zones of neck injury, and management strategies to assist the EMS professional maintain a high index of suspicion and deliver optimal care for victims of neck trauma.
Target Audience: All levels
After this presentation, the participant shall be able to:
1. discuss the management of traumatic neck injuries.
2. identify the three injury zones of the neck.
3. explain the assessment keys of a traumatic neck injury.
4. list key structures of the neck.
Russian Roulette – The American Way
Parents do not know that inhalants – cheap, legal and accessible products, are as popular as marijuana. Even fewer know the deadly effects the poisons in these products have on the brain and body when inhaled. It’s like playing Russian Roulette – the user can die the 1st, 10th or 100th time a product is misused. This presentation will explain the pathophysiology of various gases, nitrites, volatile substances, and other information you need to know about this deadly underground problem affecting teens and pre-teens.
Target Audience: All levels
At the end of this presentation, the participant will be able to:
1. differentiate between the different categories of abused inhalants.
2. explain the pathophysiology of commonly abused inhalants.
3. discuss proper treatment after recognizing the use of certain inhalants.
4. describe the signs and symptoms of a patient that has inhaled a caustic substance.
When The Bite Is Worse Than The Bark
Thousands of snakebite cases are reported every year in the United States. A bite from a venomous snake is rarely deadly but should always be treated as a medical emergency. Most of these types of bites produce an array of symptoms, including localized pain, swelling, convulsions, nausea and even paralysis. This presentation will describe the common types of snakes, the pathophysiology of their venom and what we as EMS providers need to do for these patients.
Target Audience: Can be used for all levels
At the end of this presentation, the participant will be able to:
1. list the three common snakes of the Crotaline family found in the United States.
2. explain the various “do-not’s” of pre-hospital snakebite care.
3. explain the actions of pit viper and coral snake venom on the human body.
4. state what should be done for a victim of a venomous snakebite.
Trachs and Tubes and Shunts, Oh My! Technology for Special Needs Children
Most EMS training teaches us how to deal with the “average” patient. Due to advances in medical technology and more plentiful support services, children who have suffered critical injuries and those with unique disease states are being cared for at home more than ever. This presentation will explain the most common equipment and technology that pre-hospital providers will encounter when caring for these patients.
Target Audience: All levels NCCR Category: Special HC Needs
After this presentation, the participant shall be able to:
1. define who are “children with special healthcare needs”.
2. discuss the function and management of unique airway support technology.
3. explain the use and function of various indwelling catheters, I.V. devices and shunts.
4. list the considerations for transporting a child with special health care needs.
Picasso, Judy Garland, and Indiana Jones all walk into a bar….
This presentation will describe the organic, psychosocial, and environmental causes of mental health derangement as well as providing information on schizophrenia, phobia and depression. Specific pathophysiology, signs and symptoms and EMS treatment options are provided to the participant during the discussion as well as addressing the prevalent problem of PTSD and suicide that is affecting all of us in the EMS community, now more than ever.
Target Audience: All levels NCCR Category: Psychiatric
At the end of this presentation, the participant will be able to:
1. describe the signs, symptoms, and presentation of a patient suffering from depression.
2. describe the signs, symptoms, and presentation of a patient suffering from schizophrenia.
3. describe the signs, symptoms, and presentation of a patient suffering from a phobia.
The Smiling Death
When responding to an entrapment situation, EMS should be prepared to manage a patient with crush syndrome. Having your patient die moments after being freed is a tragic end to a well-executed rescue. EMS providers as part of these teams can reduce the chances of this through recognition and proper pre-treatment prior to extrication. Come listen to this presentation and find out how.
Target Audience: All levels, slightly toward the Advanced level
At the end of this presentation session, the participant will be able to:
1. identify the signs and symptoms of crush syndrome.
2. discuss the BLS and ALS pre-hospital management of crush syndrome.
3. list common etiologies of crush injuries.
4. differentiate between crush syndrome and compartment syndrome.
When Fever Isn’t Just a Fever: Unmasking Pediatric Sepsis in the Field
Pediatric sepsis is a leading cause of death in children worldwide—and its early signs are often subtle, misleading, or mistaken for benign illness. For EMS providers, the ability to recognize the earliest indicators can mean the difference between life and death. This lecture delivers a focused, evidence-based approach to pediatric sepsis recognition and prehospital management. You’ll review pathophysiology, risk factors, and pediatric-specific red flags, and gain practical tools to guide early suspicion, timely intervention, and effective communication with receiving facilities. In the fight against sepsis, the clock is ticking—and EMS is the first line of defense.
At the end of this presentation, the participant will be able to:
- define sepsis and septic shock.
- describe the pathophysiology behind a systemic infection.
- explain the treatment regimen, pre-hospital, for a septic patient.
- list the signs and symptoms of a pediatric septic patient.
Special K!
What is the difference between hypokalemia and hyperkalemia? Should pre-hospital providers even care? Absolutely! Ever run a code or treat a dialysis patient, and despite everything done correctly the patient does not improve? Remember the H’s and T’s? By paying attention to the history of the illness and some of the more subtle signs and symptoms, EMS providers can provide a more detailed report to emergency department personnel, alerting them to the possibility of an electrolyte imbalance emergency. Come participate…and we will discuss physical presentation, ECG changes and other things to consider.
Target Audience: Advanced, EMT-P
After this presentation, the participant shall be able to:
1. discuss the importance of potassium in the body and the role it plays in bodily functions.
2. describe the causes, signs and symptoms, ECG changes of a patient with hypokalemia.
3. describe the causes, signs and symptoms, ECG changes of a patient with hyperkalemia.
4. explain the pre-hospital management of hyperkalemia and hypokalemia.
And The Beat Goes On…
A ventricular assistance device (VAD) is used to replace the function of a failing heart partially or completely. Some VAD’s are for short-term use, typically for patients recovering from heart attacks or heart surgery, while others are intended for long-term use. This session discusses the heart failure patient and need for a VAD, the various types of VAD’s, troubleshooting warning indicators, common management needs and special situations requiring intervention by the EMS professional.
Target Audience: All levels
NCCR Category: VADs
1. The participant will be able to describe the basic function of the various types of VAD’s.
2. The participant will be able to explain the procedure for treating a patient in cardiac arrest with an implanted VAD.
3. The participant will be able to list the differences in vital signs that are found with a patient that has a VAD.
4. The participant will be able to differentiate between destination therapy and bridge to transplant.
When a Stroke Really Isn’t a Stroke
The diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke is often straightforward. The sudden onset of a focal neurologic deficit with a common presentation – such as hemiparesis, facial weakness, and aphasia – identifies a common syndrome of acute stroke. What if the patient presentation is not that cut and dry? Differential diagnostic problems remain because there are several subtypes of stroke, and some non-vascular disorders have clinical presentations identical to stroke. This presentation will address these “mimics” as well as other considerations during your assessment of these patients who “didn’t read the textbook’.
Target Audience: Can be used for all levels
1. The participant will be able to list three different stroke mimics.
2. The participant will be able to explain the signs and symptoms that help to differentiate stroke vs. mimic.
3. The participant will be able to describe the proper care for any patient suffering from altered mental status.
4. The participant will be able to describe the pathophysiology behind the various types of conditions that mimic a stroke.
The Unhappy Drunk: Toxic Alcohols
“Toxic alcohols” … Why would someone ever consume them? Typically, these substances are used for two reasons: suicide/homicide or inebriation. They are more readily available than ethanol and are usually cheaper, thus, are sometimes a viable option for the patient looking for a quick fix. The results of ingestion, however, can be catastrophic. This presentation will break down the effects of these substances in the body and what we as EMS providers can do for these patients.
Target Audience: Can be used for all levels
1. The participant will be able to describe the pathophysiology of “other” alcohols within the body.
2. The participant will be able to list the unique signs and symptoms due to ingestion of methanol, ethylene glycol and isopropyl alcohol.
3. The participant will be able to explain the proper treatments for a patient exposed to toxic alcohols.
4. The participant will be able to state why patients ingest alternative alcohols.
To Pee Is to Be
When the kidneys fail, your patient becomes sick with a variety of non-specific signs and symptoms. Whether an acute event or from a chronic problem, kidney failure may lead a patient being dependent on dialysis. This presentation helps you gain some insight into the challenges these patients provide to the EMS professional.
Target Audience: All levels
At the end of this presentation, the participant will be able to:
1. discuss common renal-related emergencies seen in the pre-hospital setting.
2. list the different parts of the anatomy of the renal system.
3. differentiate between acute and chronic renal failure.
4. compare hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.
Meconium Happens!
OB patients, in many EMS providers’ minds, usually elicits a response of “Oh, Boy!” As scary as it might seem, many pre-hospital deliveries just involve catching, drying, and stimulating the newborn – then cutting the umbilical cord. However, occasionally, a pregnant patient has indications of an impending complicated delivery. Whether it be prior, during, or after a birth, conditions such as placenta previa, abruptio placenta, cord presentation, shoulder dystocia, CPD and breech birth, among many others, must be assessed and managed appropriately. This not-always-necessary-but-essential-to-know information will be discussed throughout this presentation.
Target Audience: All levels
NCCR Category: OB Emergencies
At the end of this presentation, the participant shall be able to:
1. identify the complications associated with pregnancy and delivery.
2. describe how to manage various abnormal deliveries.
3. contrast a normal from an abnormal delivery procedure.
4. explain the difference between placenta previa and abruptio placenta.
Hanging in the Balance: The Danger of Suspension Trauma
Those who work at heights on scaffolds and other structures higher than six feet often wear safety harnesses. The technology of safety harnesses has progressed in recent years, but even with the best designs in safety gear, those who fall in an upright position are at risk of death. This can happen even after a relatively short and effective rescue. This presentation will explain the physiological consequences of suspension trauma and what EMS professionals need to consider during rescue and prehospital management.
Target Audience: All levels
At the end of the presentation, the participant shall be able to:
1. describe the physiology of suspension trauma.
2. define crush syndrome, rhabdomyolysis, and compartment syndrome.
3. list two consequences of prolonged passive suspension.
4. explain the controversy over laying patients down.
A Bolt Out of the Blue
A person struck by lightning is the second leading cause of storm-related deaths in the United States. At minimum, a lightning strike is both a serious medical and traumatic event that can lead to significant injury and/or permanent disability. This presentation will enlighten you to the various effects that a lightning strike has on the human body and the numerous anatomical and physiological complications that the pre-hospital provider must be aware of to triage and treat these victims properly. Come, listen, and see what all the thunder is all about!
Target Audience: All levels
After this presentation, the participant shall be able to:
1. explain how lightning is generated and the basic mechanisms of injury resulting from a strike.
2. describe the physiological effects that a lightning strike has on various body systems.
3. conduct the initial triage and resuscitation of a patient struck by lightning.
4. discuss the treatment rendered to a patient struck by lightning.
In an Instant
One time or another, we take the call for a patient that we know all too well. Sometimes it is a family member, a friend, and in one terrible instance – a co-worker. Based on an actual EMS call, this presentation correlates real timeline history, events, and preventative treatments for a fellow colleague with the underlying pathophysiology of a pulmonary embolism. Various signs, predisposing risk factors and origins of emboli formation are all tied together to give a global perspective of the acute and, in this case, fatal event that shocked an entire EMS service.
At the end of this presentation, the participant will be able to:
1. identify the predisposing factors for the development of an embolus.
2. explain the underlying pathophysiology of a pulmonary embolism.
3. discuss the pre-hospital limitations caring for a patient experiencing a pulmonary embolism.
4. express the need for emergent transportation and vigilant monitoring of a patient with a pulmonary embolism.
Blown to Kingdom Come!
Blast injuries result from explosions that have the capability to cause multisystem, life-threatening injuries in single or multiple victims simultaneously. These types of events present complex triage, diagnostic, and management challenges for the health care provider. This presentation will explain pathophysiology, safety considerations, and what we do as EMS providers to help these trauma patients.
Target Audience: All levels
At the end of this presentation, the participant will be able to:
1. describe the physics of blast injuries.
2. name two special scenarios with the management of blast injuries.
3. differentiate between the different blast phases.
4. discuss the pre-hospital management of blast injuries.
The Night Joe’s Crab Shack Almost Changed Everything
This presentation explains and follows the development of the pathophysiology, signs, symptoms and treatment of a severe anaphylactic reaction. This case study shows how an allergic reaction develops into an anaphylactic presentation in real time with real events. Audience participation will help demonstrate the components of the immune system and the events of a normal immune response. All the actual events during this case study correlated with the underlying pathophysiology of the immune response and will help the EMS professional better understand the development of anaphylaxis and its management.
Target Audience: All levels NCCR Category: Immunological
At the end of this presentation, the participant will be able to:
1. describe the signs and symptoms that manifest in various body systems during an anaphylactic reaction.
2. explain the underlying pathophysiology of anaphylaxis.
3. construct a proper treatment plan from all the gathered patient assessment information.
4. discuss the importance of early and aggressive airway management for a patient suffering from an anaphylactic reaction.
Hot Tots! Pediatric Burn Patients
There are approximately 3,000 pediatric deaths annually due to burns and probably three times as many disabling injuries. Burns not only affect the body physically, but also the life-long emotional well-being of individuals who must deal with any disfigurement that occurred from a burn. This presentation will help the EMS provider provide proper, rapid assessment and care to a pediatric patient sustaining a burn from flame, electrical and/or inhalation injury.
Target Audience: Can be used for all levels
1. The participant will be able to explain the anatomical differences between an adult and child airway.
2. The participant will be able to estimate a burn surface area on a child or infant.
3. The participant will be able to discuss the proper treatment for a child or infant that is burned.
4. The participant will be able to define the different depths of a burn.
When your patient reaches the breaking point
Need to brush up on some basic musculoskeletal assessment and management? This lecture will help get you back up to speed on caring for various injuries and the complications associated with fractures and dislocations. If nothing else, just come to see all the cool pictures!
Target Audience: All levels
After this presentation, the participant shall be able to:
1. describe the types of musculoskeletal injuries.
2. explain the assessment findings associated with skeletal injuries.
3. discuss the management of various types of musculoskeletal injuries.
4. select the criteria for the use of pain management while treating a musculoskeletal injury.
Seven Things to Know about Pediatric Cardiac Arrest
The worst call possible: child in cardiac arrest. So many thoughts go through your head before you show up. On scene, chaos reigns. Why did this happen? What do I do first? The situation alone of treating a child or infant is daunting even for the most seasoned EMS professional – this presentation will help you focus and be more confident when attempting resuscitation on this patient population.
Target Audience: Can be used for all levels
NCCR Category: Pediatric Cardiac Arrest
1. The participant will be able to explain the consideration of prolonged scene time for a child in cardiac arrest.
2. The participant will be able to differentiate when it is appropriate to continue resuscitation and when to cease efforts.
3. The participant will be able to discuss the benefits of epinephrine administration.
Choking on the Truth: The EMS Role Identifying Strangulation in Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence is one of the most dangerous situations for first responders and, in many cases, is a potential crime scene. Strangulation has been identified as one of the most lethal forms of domestic violence with devastating psychological effects and a potentially fatal outcome. Often leaving no physical marks, it is imperative that first responders can identify strangulation signs and symptoms. When domestic violence perpetrators attempt to choke their victim, it is often considered the “last warning shot” before homicide.
Target Audience: All levels
At the end of this presentation, the participant will be able to:
1. discuss the prevalence of strangulation in domestic violence incidents and its serious consequences.
2. list various signs and symptoms found during an exam of a patient who has been strangled.
3. identify scene concerns for first responders during strangulation and domestic violence calls.
4. explain how prolonged exposure to abuse can manifest in medical symptoms.
5. describe key points to include on a patient care report narrative regarding a domestic violence incident.
Prescription Overload: Navigating Polypharmacy in the Elderly
Older adults often carry more than wisdom; they carry a list of medications that can rival a pharmacy shelf. As EMS providers, we’re frequently called to unravel the medical mysteries that come with polypharmacy: falls, confusion, hypotension, and interactions that turn routine calls into critical ones. In this eye-opening session, we’ll explore how multiple medications impact assessment, treatment decisions, and transport considerations in geriatric patients. You’ll walk away with practical tips, red flags to watch for, and a better understanding of how to be both detective and caregiver in the field. When the pill bottles pile up, EMS is the first line of defense.
Target Audience: All levels
At the end of this presentation, the participant will be able to:
- define polypharmacy.
- discuss medication non-adherence.
- describe relative physiological changes of an elderly patient.
- list the various factors that contribute to polypharmacy.
Three’s Company: Medical Triads EMS Providers Should Know
They say good things come in threes—but in medicine, three findings together may be trying to tell you something important. This session will take a practical tour through some of medicine’s most memorable triads and explore the physiology behind the findings, identify which clues are most useful during the prehospital assessment, and connect classic textbook presentations to the often-not-so-classic patients encountered in the real world.
Target Audience: All levels
At the end of this session, the participants will be able to:
- list the signs and symptoms of the development of a cardiac tamponade.
- list the signs and symptoms of the development of a pulmonary embolism.
- list the signs and symptoms of the development of increasing intracranial pressure.
Vitals Are Fine…Until They Aren’t: Recognizing the Patient Who Is About to Crash
Some of the sickest patients in EMS do not look sick, at least not at first. They may be talking to you. Their blood pressure may be “normal.” Their oxygen saturation may look acceptable. Their heart rate may not seem alarming. Then, suddenly, everything changes. This session will challenge EMS providers to look beyond isolated numbers and recognize the subtle clues of impending patient deterioration. Through realistic, case-based scenarios, this session focuses on trending vital signs, recognizing changes in appearance and mentation, identifying high-risk patterns, avoiding cognitive bias, and developing the clinical judgment necessary to answer one of the most important questions in prehospital medicine: “Is this patient about to get worse?”
Target Audience: All levels
At the end of this session, the participants will be able to:
- identify at least five clinical findings that may indicate impending patient deterioration.
- differentiate compensated illness or injury from decompensated presentations using patient history, physical examination findings, vital-sign trends, and overall clinical appearance.
- analyze serial patient assessments to recognize patterns suggesting shock, respiratory failure, sepsis, hemorrhage, or other time-sensitive emergencies.
- select appropriate assessment, treatment, reassessment, and transport priorities for patients demonstrating subtle signs of clinical deterioration.
Zoomies and Snails: Pediatric Cardiac Arrhythmias
Children have arrhythmias, just as adults do. But what is normal and what is abnormal? As healthcare providers, it is important to be able to identify rhythms in children and treat them appropriately. This lecture will focus on the most common arrhythmias seen in children and treatment, including “too fast and too slow” rhythms, SVT, ventricular arrhythmias, and congenital dysrhythmias.
Target Audience: All providers – slightly more Advanced
After this presentation, the participant will be able to:
- describe the causes of various cardiac arrythmias.
- discuss the management of various cardiac arrhythmias.
- list five different types of pediatric cardiac arrhythmias.
- differentiate a normal vs abnormal pediatric arrythmia.