EMTprep Pulse Check

In this episode of EMTprep Pulse Check, listeners take on the role of the EMS provider during a 911 call involving a 67-year-old patient with severe difficulty breathing. Starting with dispatch information and scene safety considerations, the episode walks through the patient's initial presentation, primary and secondary assessments, differential diagnoses, vital signs, lung sounds, oxygenation, c...

In this episode of EMTprep Pulse Check, we review 10 key updates from the 2025 American Heart Association (AHA) Guidelines for CPR and emergency cardiovascular care. The discussion covers changes affecting both adult and pediatric patients, including the new universal cardiac arrest Chain of Survival, updated foreign-body airway obstruction interventions, infant chest compression techniques, incre...

In this episode of EMTprep Pulse Check, we take a different approach to EMS education by placing the listener in the provider role during a simulated 911 call. The scenario follows an 11-year-old patient who sustained an electrical injury after contacting an active power line while standing on a ladder, allowing listeners to work through scene safety, primary and secondary assessment, vital signs,...

In this episode of EMTprep Pulse Check, we take an in-depth look at fentanyl, including what it is, how it is used as a prehospital pain medication, common adverse effects, and important considerations for safe administration. The episode explores fentanyl's role in treating acute pain, procedural sedation, RSI/DSI, cardioversion, and pacing, while emphasizing the importance of titrating medicatio...

In this episode of EMTprep Pulse Check, we explore stroke and the critical role EMTs play in recognizing this time-sensitive neurological emergency. Listeners will review the different types of stroke, common signs and symptoms, important assessment findings, and why rapid recognition and transport are essential to improving patient outcomes. The episode connects stroke pathophysiology with practi...

In this episode of EMTprep Pulse Check, we explore pitting edema and what this physical finding can tell EMS providers about a patient's underlying condition. Listeners will learn what causes fluid to accumulate in the tissues, how to properly assess for pitting edema, and why the location and severity of edema can provide important clues during a patient assessment. The episode connects this phys...

In this episode of EMTprep Pulse Check, we explore pediatric respiratory emergencies and the unique challenges EMTs face when assessing and treating children with breathing problems. Listeners will review common causes of pediatric respiratory distress and failure, important assessment findings, and the interventions that can help prevent a child's condition from rapidly deteriorating. The episode...

In this episode of EMTprep Pulse Check, we explore cardiac tamponade, a life-threatening condition in which fluid accumulates within the pericardial sac and prevents the heart from pumping effectively. Listeners will learn the pathophysiology of cardiac tamponade, the significance of Beck’s Triad, and how EMTs can recognize this medical emergency through patient assessment and clinical presentatio...

In this episode of EMTprep Pulse Check, we explore behavioral health emergencies and the EMT's role in safely assessing, communicating with, and caring for patients experiencing mental health crises. Listeners will review common behavioral health conditions, recognize signs and symptoms that may indicate an emergency, and learn strategies for maintaining scene safety while providing compassionate,...

In this episode of EMTprep Pulse Check, we explore capnography and the important information it provides about a patient's ventilation and respiratory status. Listeners will learn what end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO₂) represents, how capnography helps evaluate ventilation, and how changes in capnography readings can provide important clues about a patient's condition. The episode connects capnogra...

In this episode of EMTprep Pulse Check, we break down many of the most common acronyms used throughout emergency medical services and explain how they apply to patient care and the NREMT exam. Listeners will review frequently used assessment mnemonics, documentation abbreviations, communication terminology, and operational acronyms that help EMS providers communicate efficiently and deliver consis...

In this episode of EMTprep Pulse Check, we examine burn injuries and the different types of burns EMTs may encounter in the prehospital setting. Listeners will review the mechanisms of thermal, chemical, electrical, and radiation burns, along with burn depth classification, patient assessment priorities, and the initial treatment principles that help improve patient outcomes. The episode connects...

In this episode of EMTprep Pulse Check, we explore the principles of acid-base balance and why maintaining normal pH is essential for proper body function. Listeners will review how the respiratory and renal systems work together to regulate acid-base homeostasis, the causes of acidosis and alkalosis, and how disruptions in this balance affect patient presentation and emergency care. The episode s...

In this episode of EMTprep Pulse Check, we explore increased intracranial pressure (ICP) and its impact on brain function and patient outcomes. Listeners will learn the common causes of elevated ICP, the underlying pathophysiology, and the signs and symptoms that can help EMTs recognize this life-threatening neurological emergency in the prehospital setting. The episode connects foundational neuro...

In this episode of EMTprep Pulse Check, we explore sepsis, a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body's response to infection leads to widespread inflammation, organ dysfunction, and potential shock. Listeners will review the causes of sepsis, common signs and symptoms, and the critical role EMS providers play in early recognition and rapid intervention. The episode connects pathophysi...

In this episode of EMTprep Pulse Check, we explore heart tones and what they reveal about cardiac function and patient condition. Listeners will review how heart sounds are produced during the cardiac cycle, the significance of normal heart tones, and how abnormalities can indicate underlying cardiovascular problems. The episode connects foundational cardiac anatomy and physiology with practical p...

In this episode of EMTprep Pulse Check, we explore cardiac electrophysiology and how the heart’s electrical system controls rate, rhythm, and coordinated cardiac function. Listeners will review the cardiac conduction pathway, the generation of electrical impulses, and how electrical activity relates to mechanical contraction and perfusion. The episode simplifies complex electrophysiology concepts...

In this episode of EMTprep Pulse Check, we break down the anatomy and physiology of the respiratory system and its importance in patient assessment and emergency care. Listeners will review the structures involved in breathing, the mechanics of ventilation, and how oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged at the cellular level. The episode connects foundational respiratory concepts to real-world EM...

In this episode of EMTprep Pulse Check, we explore immunological emergencies and the EMT’s role in recognizing and managing allergic reactions and anaphylaxis. Listeners will review how the immune system responds to allergens, the signs and symptoms of mild versus severe reactions, and the importance of rapid assessment and intervention in potentially life-threatening situations. The episode conne...

In this episode of EMTprep Pulse Check, we explore EMS communication systems and the critical role effective communication plays in emergency medical services. Listeners will review the different types of communication used in EMS, including radio reports, interpersonal communication, medical direction, and patient handoffs, while learning how clear communication improves patient care and scene co...

In this episode of EMTprep Pulse Check, we examine penetrating trauma and the priorities of prehospital assessment and management. Listeners will review mechanisms of injury, rapid trauma assessment, hemorrhage control, recognition of life-threatening complications, and how EMTs can make critical treatment decisions while preparing for rapid transport. The episode connects foundational trauma conc...

In this episode of EMTprep Pulse Check, we break down cardiac anatomy and physiology in a practical, exam-focused way for EMT students and EMS providers. Listeners will review the structure and function of the heart, blood flow through the chambers and vessels, electrical conduction, and how these concepts connect directly to patient assessment and emergency care. The episode translates complex ca...

In this episode of EMTprep Pulse Check, we explore the fundamentals of pharmacology and its critical role in prehospital patient care. Listeners will learn how medications work in the body, including key concepts such as drug classifications, mechanisms of action, and routes of administration. The episode breaks down essential pharmacology principles in an accessible way, helping EMTs understand h...

In this episode of EMTprep Pulse Check, we focus on chest trauma, one of the most dangerous categories of traumatic injury encountered in the prehospital setting. Listeners will learn how blunt and penetrating chest injuries affect breathing and circulation, and how rapid recognition is essential to prevent deterioration. The episode covers critical conditions such as pneumothorax, tension pneumot...

In this episode of EMTprep Pulse Check, we break down endocrine emergencies with a focus on conditions EMTs encounter most often in the field. Listeners will learn how disorders involving blood glucose, insulin, and hormone regulation can rapidly affect mental status, vital signs, and patient stability. The episode emphasizes recognition and management of diabetic emergencies, including hypoglycem...