Ep: 8 Prove It or Lose It – Competency Verification & Skills Check

After eight classes, the crew hits a mid-season “prove it” moment. Mike, Max, and Jonathan recap Section One of EMT school and what it’s like to switch from book work to demonstrating real skills under pressure. It’s a lighter, story-driven debrief that still digs into hands-on takeaways—like practicing backboards with head blocks for c-spine control—and why actually touching the equipment beats watching someone else do it.

They also run through the big themes from the first eight chapters: EMS system overview, EMT well-being, legal/ethical scenarios, patient movement, med terms, anatomy, pathophysiology, and lifespan development—plus how the “skills check” vibe changes the way you study and perform.

Episode Breakdown

00:00 – Intro & welcome back to RideAlong (Ep. 8 kickoff)

02:22 – Sponsor Spotlight: xShear Trauma Shears + Giveaway reminder

38:57 – Section One recap: from EMT wellness to patient movement, ethics, terminology, anatomy, pathophysiology, and lifespan development

45:02 – Hands-on highlights: backboards, head blocks, and why c-spine practice matters

45:44 – “Doing it beats watching it”: why practical reps change everything

46:41 – How we’ll treat review episodes + where to connect with us on socials

47:24 – Closing & disclaimer

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⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and storytelling purposes only. It is not medical advice or official EMT training. Always follow your accredited instructors and local protocols.

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🚑 RideAlong: EMT School Links

www.RideAlong.Bulletn.net

Ep 7: Stayin’ Alive – CPR Certification Night

Mike and Max earn their CPR certification — the first major credential on the road to becoming EMTs. With Jonathan adding real-world perspective, the crew covers what high-quality CPR really means, how AEDs actually work, and why chest recoil is just as important as compression depth.

From adult compressions to infant rescue breathing, this episode dives into the skills every EMT (and civilian) needs to know. Plus, a closer look at the scoop stretcher in Tools of the Trade, and a student tip on being ready for your very first clinical shift.

Episode Breakdown

00:58 – Medical Term of the Week: High-Quality CPR

08:17 – Recognition and early intervention

13:45 – Chest recoil, depth, and compression rate

22:15 – AEDs: What they actually do (and don’t do)

34:03 – Rescue breathing and avoiding barotrauma

42:49 – Adult vs. pediatric CPR

46:42 – Choking emergencies & “abdominal thrusts”

52:58 – Tools of the Trade: Scoop Stretcher

1:08:12 – Student Tip of the Week: Be prepared for CPR on your first clinical shift

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⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and storytelling purposes only. It is not medical advice or official EMT training. Always follow your accredited instructors and local protocols.

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🚑 RideAlong: EMT School Links

https://linktr.ee/RideAlongEMTSchool

Mike and Max (with Jonathan bringing the paramedic perspective) tackle life span development — how EMTs assess and interact with patients differently from infancy through late adulthood. From dehydration in infants, to psychosocial factors in adolescents, to polypharmacy in the elderly, the crew walks through the major age groups and what makes each unique in the field.

This week also features a musically Medical Term of the Week, a spotlight on the Reeves stretcher as our Tool of the Trade, and a student tip on the importance of doing truck checks. Plus, we highlight the Code Green Campaign, an organization dedicated to mental health and suicide prevention for first responders.

Episode Breakdown

08:08 – Medical Term of the Week: Psychosocial

17:12 – Life span development across age groups

20:30 – Vital sign ranges: infants vs. adults

25:04 – Psychosocial factors in kids and adolescents

34:51 – Sensitivity and communication with teens

39:45 – Early and middle adulthood: trauma and bad habits

43:04 – Late adulthood: fragility, pill burden, and polypharmacy

52:58 – Tools of the Trade: Reeves Stretcher

1:00:48 – Student Tip of the Week: Participate in truck checks

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⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and storytelling purposes only. It is not medical advice or official EMT training. Always follow your accredited instructors and local protocols.

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🚑 RideAlong: EMT School Links

https://linktr.ee/RideAlongEMTSchool

Ep 5: Malfunction Junction – Pathophysiology

Mike and Jonathan (flying the “missing man formation” without Max) dive into the toughest class yet: pathophysiology. They tackle the foundational concepts of how the body’s systems work together, what happens when they fail, and why understanding compensation and perfusion is critical for EMTs.

From heart and lungs working in tandem, to the different types of shock, to how children compensate differently than adults, this episode connects classroom theory to real-world EMS. Jonathan also brings in practical field experience and an EMT instructor’s tip on how students can succeed in class.

Episode Breakdown

09:43 – Medical Term of the Week: Compensation

13:17 – Cardiovascular & respiratory systems in balance

22:53 – Compensation vs. decompensation in patients

33:02 – System-by-system breakdown: cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, renal, skin

37:08 – Shock explained: hypovolemic, cardiogenic, distributive, neurogenic, obstructive

45:53 – Perfusion and the ABCs of airway, breathing, circulation

55:00 – Adult vs. pediatric compensation (gradual decline vs. sudden crash)

1:03:22 – Tools of the Trade: (skipped this week – EMT shears coming in Ep 6)

1:04:25 – Student Tip of the Week: Don’t be afraid to ask questions (feat. EMT Instructor Ashley)

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⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and storytelling purposes only. It is not medical advice or official EMT training. Always follow your accredited instructors and local protocols.

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🚑 RideAlong: EMT School Links

https://linktr.ee/RideAlongEMTSchool

Ep 4: Talk Nerdy to Me – Medical Terminology & Anatomy Basics

Mike and Jonathan dive into the challenging world of EMT vocabulary, tackling medical terminology and the basics of human anatomy. From anatomical position to directional terms like anterior, dorsal, and proximal, they explore how EMTs learn to speak a common language.

The conversation also digs into when to use precise medical jargon versus plain language in the field, why mnemonics and analogies can make studying easier, and how anatomy leads directly into next week’s topic of pathophysiology. Plus, Jonathan spotlights the importance of modern tourniquet kits in this week’s Tools of the Trade.

Episode Breakdown

07:30 – Medical Term of the Week: Anatomical Position

10:00 – Learning directional terms: anterior, posterior, dorsal, proximal, distal

18:30 – Plain speak vs. professional jargon in EMS

33:00 – Mnemonics, word roots, and anatomy study tips

45:00 – Anatomy vs. physiology explained with car analogies

58:00 – Tools of the Trade: Tourniquet Kits

1:09:00 – Student Tip of the Week: Take care of personal needs when you can

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⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and storytelling purposes only. It is not medical advice or official EMT training. Always follow your accredited instructors and local protocols.

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🚑 RideAlong: EMT School Links

https://linktr.ee/RideAlongEMTSchool

Mike and Max recap their third night of EMT school, where the class shifted between heavy ethical discussions and hands-on patient movement training. Joined by Jonathan, a working paramedic, the hosts dive into the real-world dilemmas of consent, duty to act, and scope of practice, before hitting the mats to practice carries, backboards, and stair chairs.

From navigating moral conflicts in EMS to learning how to physically move patients without injury, this episode captures the balance between the mental and physical demands of EMT school.

Episode Breakdown

04:27 – Medical Term of the Week: Implied Consent

18:00 – Main Class Topics:

18:20 – Express vs. implied consent and patient refusals

27:00 – Duty to act, Good Samaritan laws, and moral conflicts

33:00 – Scope of practice, medical directors, and EMS protocols

45:00 – Confidentiality, HIPAA, and mandatory reporting

53:00 – Ethical dilemmas in real-world EMS

1:05:00 – Hands-On Skills: Patient carries, drags, backboards & stretchers

1:08:00 – Tools of the Trade: Stair Chair

1:17:00 – Student Tip of the Week: Stay physically fit for patient care

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⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and storytelling purposes only. It is not medical advice or official EMT training. Always follow your accredited instructors and local protocols.

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🚑 RideAlong: EMT School Links

https://linktr.ee/RideAlongEMTSchool

Mike and Max share what it was like stepping back into the classroom for their first week of EMT school — from being “older students” to navigating the demographics of their new classmates. Joined by Jonathan, a working paramedic, the hosts break down EMT training levels, trauma center designations, and why provider wellness matters if you want to last in this career.

This episode also introduces two recurring segments: Tools of the Trade and Student Tips — giving you practical resources and advice to help on your own EMT journey.

Episode Breakdown

00:12 – Medical Term of the Week: Trauma Center Levels

18:00 – Main Class Topics:

18:20 – EMT training levels (EMR, EMT, AEMT, Paramedic)

22:00 – Trauma center designations and hospital capabilities

27:00 – Class demographics & being “older” students

32:00 – Instructor styles and classroom reality

49:00 – EMS history & culture shift around provider wellness

1:22:00 – Tools of the Trade: PAMedic.org app

1:27:00 – Student Tip of the Week: Get in the book

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First Responder Mental Health Resources

https://responderstrong.org/

Safe Call Now: (206) 459-3020

National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988

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⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and storytelling purposes only. It is not medical advice or official EMT training. Always follow your accredited instructors and local protocols.

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🚑 RideAlong: EMT School Links

https://linktr.ee/RideAlongEMTSchool

RideAlong: EMT School – Ep. 1 “Why EMT School?”

In the very first episode of RideAlong: EMT School, Mike and Max dive into why they decided to start EMT school and what it takes to get enrolled. Joined by Jonathan, a working paramedic, the hosts discuss the sacrifices needed to balance training with work and family, the gear and requirements for getting started, and what new EMT students should expect from their first night in class.

Whether you’re curious about becoming an EMT or just want a behind-the-scenes look at the student journey, this is where it all begins.

Episode Breakdown

00:00 – Intro & welcome

03:30 – Main Class Topics:

03:35 – Why we started this podcast

05:10 – Meet the hosts: Jonathan, Mike, and Max

09:30 – Mike’s background & Bulletn.net

12:20 – Max’s background and motivation

15:00 – Why share the EMT student journey?

18:20 – Finding and enrolling in an EMT program

26:00 – Costs, scholarships, and financial aid

33:00 – Time commitment & sacrifices

43:00 – Background checks, uniforms, and required gear

47:00 – FEMA/NIMS coursework and prep

55:00 – Student Tip of the Week: Jonathan’s first EMT school advice

59:00 – Closing thoughts & what’s next in EMT school

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⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and storytelling purposes only. It is not medical advice or official EMT training. Always follow your accredited instructors and local protocols.

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RideAlong: EMT School Linktree

https://linktr.ee/RideAlongEMTSchool