This course provides an overview of The Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock (Sepsis-3), specifically designed for EMS providers. The session begins with a historical look at sepsis and progresses to the recent assessment guidelines and treatment strategies. Recent recommendations supplementing the consensus report are also included to provide a comprehensive understanding of sepsis management. Attendees will explore key topics, including case presentations, the history of sepsis identification, and the definition of sepsis and septic shock. The course will cover the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) and Quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) tools, as well as appropriate prehospital interventions. By the end of the course, attendees will be able to define sepsis and septic shock, identify high-risk patients, describe potential prehospital interventions, and understand the components of the qSOFA process, enhancing their ability to make informed decisions in the field.

End Tidal CO2 is becoming a tool that is extremely common in the prehospital emergency medicine with people using it on almost every patient. Yet, beyond knowing I should look for a certain range or a certain capnography reading, can one explain where the carbon dioxide comes from, what variables are associated with this measurement tool, and which scenarios would benefit from the use of EtCO2? During this presentation, we will dive into the body, looking at why providers use EtCO2 and what normal vs abnormal pathophysiology may look like.

Ok, we know that documentation isn’t everyone’s favorite job.  But there are ways to sport and correct the important stuff that get you into trouble.  Learn the bit ticket items to detect, and how to make good documentation habits stick (for good).

This course is designed to equip Emergency Medical Services (EMS) professionals with the critical knowledge and skills required to safely and effectively respond to hazardous materials (HazMat) incidents, particularly those involving railways. Through a comprehensive examination of hazardous materials training, certification levels, and the use of essential response guides such as the Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) and the NIOSH Pocket Guide, participants will gain a deep understanding of the procedures and best practices necessary for managing HazMat exposures. The course also covers the identification and management of the most common hazardous material releases encountered by EMS, ensuring that participants are prepared to deliver appropriate care in these high-risk situations.

Research shows that often, EMS providers have trouble ventilating patients. In this eye-opening, hands-on workshop, Bob shows participants how to ventilate patients by BVM, via Mask, ET tube, and supraglottic airways using state of the art computerized simulators that measure pressures, volumes, and ventilatory rates. You will gain valuable insight and skills to improve your ventilation ability using this valuable feedback and coaching system. This lab features the tools and techniques to introduce to you the concept of high performance ventilation (HPV). The class is an arena format with plenty of time for hands on practice, not an airway class, a ventilation class using state of the art ventilation equipment and high fidelity simulation.

Embark on an engaging journey to discover the hidden dangers of complacency, as we delve into its risky effects on both patient and staff safety. By exploring the root causes and consequences of complacency, the learner will verbalize the urgent need for proactive measures to combat this silent threat. This presentation will cover strategies for addressing complacency, including fostering a culture of continuous learning, accountability, and change. Attendees will gain valuable insights to recognize signs of complacency, understand its consequences, and implement effective solutions that promote growth, innovation, and sustained success within their agency.

Whether you’re new to ambulance billing or a seasoned coder, this session has something insightful for you.  We’ll cover everything from “accurate” emergency billing to the ALS assessment rule for Medicare. Get ready to go to billing boot camp.

Good care of the victim of drowning requires the most up-to-date information in an area where even the definitions have changed. Alterations in typical interventions may be needed. Further, the patient needs to go the right hospital. The latest guidelines on treating victims of drowning will be reviewed. As well, you will be provided the insight of a very experienced ocean lifeguard who has managed the scene of hundreds of drowning episodes.

We are in a world where drug abuse and mental health crises are at an all-time high. When law enforcement requests EMS for chemical restraints, often the line of who has ownership of that patient/perp is blurred. This is when those suffering hyperactive delirium die in our care. We will review several national cases with the help of body cam footage where it was clear no true ownership was taken of the persons who were chemically sedated resulting in criminal prosecution of paramedics. I will discuss a method for your EMS/PD teams to facilitate improved communication in these cases to prevent unintentional harm to those suffering hyperactive delirium warranting chemical restraints.

Most people, including the first responder community are unaware that there is a national biodetection program which is locally driven/federally owned. BioWatch is a biodetection platform that operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year monitoring the air for biological agents likely to be used in a bioterrorism attack. If a detection occurs, public health first responder officials use the information to coordinate emergency response, including prompt medical care and other consequence management activities. BioWatch is locally operated in more than 30 major metropolitan areas across the country. These jurisdictions and select federal agencies work together to ensure the overall resilience of the program. Effective working relationships between federal, state, and local public health, laboratories, law enforcement, and environmental health agencies are key to BioWatch’s success. In addition to daily operations BioWatch supports local partners during special events which may attract large crowds, have VIP participants, or are politically sensitive, such as th NFL Draft, hosted in Green Bay for 2025. Other venues include major sport events such as NBA, MLB, and the World Cup and political rallies/conventions such as the Republican National Convention(RNC) held in Milwaukee in summer of 2024. This presentation is designed to provide an awareness level understanding of the BioWatch program to first responders, medical clinicans, and to the public health community.

The number of mental health patients who seek emergency medical care continues to rise. Interacting with this population can be challenging and requires a skillset beyond traditional first aid. To effectively and safely care for these individuals, first responders must be able to identify patients in crisis and develop an immediate trusting relationship with them. The emergency care provider and mental health patient both experience fear as a predominant emotion during their initial interaction. This presentation will provide an overview of behaviors exhibited by a patient in crisis, explore the underlying fear response, and provide the learner with strategies to implement during the initial encounter of a mental health patient in need of emergency care.

This interactive course focuses on the critical identification and management of large vessel strokes. Attendees will learn to recognize the symptoms of large vessel strokes, including key cortical signs, and differentiate them from common stroke mimicking conditions. The course will cover essential hyperacute management strategies and highlight common pitfalls in the initial treatment of large vessel stroke patients. Participants will also explore the benefits and risks of transporting patients to primary versus comprehensive stroke centers, providing a comprehensive understanding of decision-making in acute stroke care. The lecture is designed to be highly interactive, with multiple points of verbal polling and Q&A sections to engage attendees and reinforce key concepts through active participation.

Stress and adversity in the emergency services is viewed as something to mitigate, avoid, or worse – ignore. However, research into resilience is changing the way science approaches stress. This session introduces the many different stress responses, examines the role of mindset in stress physiology, and discusses how to lead resilience.

This course is designed to equip Emergency Medical Services (EMS) professionals with the critical knowledge and skills required to safely and effectively respond to hazardous materials (HazMat) incidents, particularly those involving railways. Through a comprehensive examination of hazardous materials training, certification levels, and the use of essential response guides such as the Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) and the NIOSH Pocket Guide, participants will gain a deep understanding of the procedures and best practices necessary for managing HazMat exposures. The course also covers the identification and management of the most common hazardous material releases encountered by EMS, ensuring that participants are prepared to deliver appropriate care in these high-risk situations.

This specialized course is designed for the emergency rescue personnel and K9 handler that would respond to canine emergencies in the field. This course includes practical classroom style education as well as hands-on instruction, demonstrations and scenario specific training using live, Trauma Fx simulator K9 Valor, and model dogs. This is a fast-paced course with a lot of information covered in the time allotted. This course covers a wide range of lecture topics and hands-on instruction, including the physical examination and handling of both healthy and injured K9s, wound care for facial lacerations, eye injuries, and paw injuries, as well as immobilization and bandaging techniques. Participants will learn about triage, shock management, pain control, and treatment for heat stroke in K9s. The course also includes CPR training based on the RECOVER BLS and ALS guidelines, scenario drills for practical application, hemorrhage control, oxygen administration, and naloxone administration.

Hypothermia presents itself in a variety of ways and circumstances. Sometimes, the circumstances are not what we expect them to be. Regardless of the circumstances, the recognition, triage, treatment, and transportation decisions we make are often critical to the survival of the patient. What the leading authorities are recommending and how this impacts our practice will be discussed. Although the material is scholarly, the presentation promises to be entertaining. ALS concepts are integrated in this presentation.

Cardiology is a topic that may confuse many paramedics and is a topic many EMTs or advanced EMTs never have the opportunity to learn. The electrocardiogram is a fantastic tool, and can tell so much information beyond only if the patient is having a myocardial infarction or not. During this presentation, we will start with the basics of how an ECG works, STEMI Recognition, but more importantly, how the body functions and the view in which we are looking at the body. Leading to the understanding of different 12-lead abnormalities such as axis deviation, Supraventricular tachycardia with aberrancy vs. ventricular tachycardia, and other abnormal readings.

Recent events sparked the biggest shift in EMS liability we’ve ever seen.  Two paramedics were recently criminally charged and sentenced for the death of a patient, and two EMS practitioners in Springfield, Illinois have been charged with first degree murder of a patient.  Many of these cases have common themes, and we’ll discuss how you can take steps to avoid liability – from documentation to attitude.

Almost 90% of human trafficking victims encounter a healthcare provider during their exploitation. It is essential for healthcare workers to equip themselves with knowledge in this space to help prevent further victimization and create a safe and trusting environment for victims. In this course you will learn key indicators to identify victims of human trafficking, demonstrate how to start the conversation with patients using an evidence-based tool, and maintain safety and trust with this delicate patient population.

In our basic arrhythmia courses in medic class, nursing, AEMT, or even ACLS, we were taught about four heart blocks: first degree, two second degrees, and a third degree. Of the four, only two were considered to be dangerous and carry contraindications or strong safety concerns to anti-arrhythmia medications. Is that all there is? With a 12-lead ECG, there are other blocks just as bad or worse hiding in plain sight, but if you were not trained to recognize them, the results could be tragic! Don't miss the chance to learn them from Bob!

Good culture is something you can’t define but you know it when you see it.  Discover the hallmarks of EMS agencies that have the “right stuff,” and learn you can achieve that for your people.