Life and Sirens: On and Behind the Scenes

Skills can be taught. Protocols can be memorized. But judgment? That only comes from the messy calls, the gray-area moments, and the split-second decisions that never look as clean as they do in the textbook.In this episode, Sophie, Aubrey, and Jaime walk through a series of high-stakes, real-world EMS scenarios — the kind that test your critical thinking, your communication, and your ability to stay calm when everything around you isn’t. From shocky trauma with unclear mechanisms, to airway decisions when team members disagree, to ethical chaos with intoxication and capacity, each scenario forces the question: What would you do?We break down how different providers think, what options are truly safe, and how judgment evolves through experience, mistakes, and the uncomfortable calls that stick with you.As always, if you have a story to tell—funny, wild, heartbreaking, or unforgettable—you can share it through our website. We’d love to feature it on a future episode.Radio Reports – Listener Tales: ⁠https://lifeandsirens.com/listenertales/⁠

In this episode, Sophie breaks down the chaos behind pressors and blood pressure meds in EMS—what they do, when to use them, and how not to panic when that BP drops or spikes.From norepinephrine (the reliable one) to nitroglycerin (the smooth talker), Sophie introduces the “main characters” of blood pressure management in the field. You’ll learn how to think in terms of tank, pump, and pipes, avoid common mistakes, and bring physiology back into focus on every call.Whether you’re new to EMS or flying critical care, this episode gives you the practical knowledge—and confidence—to manage your next pressure call like a pro.🎧 Includes: • Simplified pathophysiology for hypotension & hypertension • When (and when not) to use pressors • Common antihypertensives in EMS explained • Real-world case logic & pitfalls • Rapid-fire EMS trivia segment

In this episode, Aubrey and Jaime sit down to talk about what it’s really like working as a double medic crew — how their partnership evolved, what changed when they both started carrying the medic patch, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. From honest conversations to on-scene communication, they share advice for new and seasoned paramedics alike about building trust, staying adaptable, and keeping your partnership strong when the calls get tough.Because in EMS, how well you work together can make all the difference.As always, if you have a story to tell—funny, wild, heartbreaking, or unforgettable—you can share it through our website. We’d love to feature it on a future episode.Radio Reports – Listener Tales: ⁠https://lifeandsirens.com/listenertales/⁠

“Radio Reports”Listener Submissions: • AJ (Washington): A call that left more questions than answers — and a warning that may have followed into the next shift. • Riley (Louisiana): An eerie midnight dispatch to Hollow Creek Road, a house that won’t stay quiet, and a verse that keeps returning.Episode Highlights: • Real listener stories — unedited, true-to-voice, and chillingly real. • Discussion on the unspoken side of EMS: the calls we can’t chart and the moments that never leave us. • A special Halloween message from the Life and Sirens crew.🧡 Submit Your Own Radio Report:Got a story from the field that still gives you chills?Send it to us for a chance to be featured in a future episode.👉 www.lifeandsirens.com/listenertalesHappy Halloween!

Recorded Onsite at EMS World Expo 2025In this special episode of Life and Sirens: Behind and On the Scene, we sit down on the conference-center floor… no like literally the floor… at EMS World 2025 for a fireside-style chat with Shay Montgomery, CCRN, CFRN, NR-P (better known online as @FlightNurseShay (https://www.instagram.com/flightnurseshay)) and her brother Tyler Morris, a fellow EMS professional and educator.Together, this brother-sister EMS duo brings a unique blend of experience across ground EMS, flight medicine, and collegiate-level education. They share honest stories from their journeys, how they found their respective callings, and what it’s really like growing in the profession side-by-side—sometimes literally.From the challenges of finding balance between teaching and clinical practice to the humor that keeps providers sane in long shifts and hotel-conference chaos, this episode captures the heart of what makes EMS a family—both by blood and by bond.It’s candid. It’s real. It’s what happens when providers stop rushing between sessions and actually sit down to talk about life and EMS.As always, if you have a story to tell—funny, wild, heartbreaking, or unforgettable—you can share it through our website. We’d love to feature it on a future episode.Radio Reports – Listener Tales: ⁠https://lifeandsirens.com/listenertales/⁠

They taught us how to line up the landmarks and pass a tube, but they didn’t tell us how humbling a bad view can feel at 3 a.m., or how much the little things like positioning, BVM technique, and teamwork really matter.In this Fireside Chat, we’re getting real about the airway: the basics that make or break you, the tools we love (and the ones that save you when nothing else works), the chaos vs calm of team dynamics, and the critical care lessons that remind us the tube is only the beginning. It’s honest, unfiltered airway talk, with a side of nerdy stats and a round of trivia to close it out.🎧 Go check out the full show notes at: https://lifeandsirens.com/episode-45-show-notes/💬 Got an airway story (the humbling, the messy, the unforgettable)? Share it with us:👉 Listener Tales (https://lifeandsirens.com/listenertales/)

They taught us how to line up the landmarks and pass a tube, but they didn’t tell us how humbling a bad view can feel at 3 a.m., or how much the little things like positioning, BVM technique, and teamwork really matter.In this Fireside Chat, we’re getting real about the airway: the basics that make or break you, the tools we love (and the ones that save you when nothing else works), the chaos vs calm of team dynamics, and the critical care lessons that remind us the tube is only the beginning. It’s honest, unfiltered airway talk, with a side of nerdy stats and a round of trivia to close it out.🎧 Go check out the full show notes at: https://lifeandsirens.com/episode-45-show-notes/💬 Got an airway story (the humbling, the messy, the unforgettable)? Share it with us:👉 Listener Tales (https://lifeandsirens.com/listenertales/)

They taught us about STEMIs and scene safety—but they didn’t mention crying in the ambulance bay, learning how to nap in a stairwell, or just how weird 3 a.m. really gets. In this episode, we get real about the things we didn’t know when we started in EMS. From the emotional weight to the unspoken culture, the moments that make you question everything, and the small victories no one teaches you to celebrate—this is the stuff that doesn’t always make it into the textbook. Whether you’re new to the field or 20 years deep, we’re talking about the raw, unexpected, and often overlooked parts of this job that shape who we become.As always, if you have a story to tell—funny, wild, heartbreaking, or unforgettable—you can share it through our website. We’d love to feature it on a future episode.Radio Reports – Listener Tales: ⁠https://lifeandsirens.com/listenertales/⁠

In this episode, we’re busting some of the most common medical myths floating around EMS—and breaking down the why behind what we should be doing instead. From misunderstood medications to outdated practices that just won’t die, we’re digging into the evidence, the history, and the truth behind those things you’ve heard on shift a hundred times. Because good medicine means questioning what you think you know.As always, if you have a story to tell—funny, wild, heartbreaking, or unforgettable—you can share it through our website. We’d love to feature it on a future episode.Radio Reports – Listener Tales: ⁠https://lifeandsirens.com/listenertales/⁠

Drownings don’t always look like the movies—and not all of them end at the scene. In this episode, we dive into the complexities of fatal and non-fatal drownings, including what actually happens physiologically, how presentations can vary, and why even a seemingly minor water rescue deserves a thorough assessment. We talk about key red flags, delayed complications, and the importance of early intervention and post-rescue care. Whether it’s a medical lake call or a toddler pulled from a pool, this episode covers what EMS providers need to know to recognize, treat, and document drowning calls with confidence.As always, if you have a story to tell—funny, wild, heartbreaking, or unforgettable—you can share it through our website. We’d love to feature it on a future episode.Radio Reports – Listener Tales: ⁠https://lifeandsirens.com/listenertales/⁠

When does staying on scene help your patient—and when does it just waste precious minutes? In this episode, we tackle the art (and reality) of managing scene times. We dig into the tough calls about what interventions are actually worth it before transport, what can safely wait until you’re rolling, and how to keep your patient’s best interest at the center of every decision. From trauma to medical calls, we share real-world examples, common pitfalls, and how to balance patient care with scene efficiency. Because sometimes the best thing you can do… is get moving.As always, if you have a story to tell—funny, wild, heartbreaking, or unforgettable—you can share it through our website. We’d love to feature it on a future episode.Radio Reports – Listener Tales: ⁠https://lifeandsirens.com/listenertales/⁠

What really happens once your patient lifts off? In this episode, Aubrey and Jaime sit down with Sophie to pull back the curtain on the nuance—and sometimes chaos—of working in the sky. From handling combative patients at 2,000 feet to making tough calls about weather, weight, and safety, Sophie breaks down what flight teams really think when they decline a scene flight (hint: there’s always a reason). Whether you’ve ever wondered what it’s like behind the rotor blades or just want to appreciate the challenges your air medical crews face, this episode keeps it honest, practical, and full of respect for the job.As always, if you have a story to tell—funny, wild, heartbreaking, or unforgettable—you can share it through our website. We’d love to feature it on a future episode.Radio Reports – Listener Tales: ⁠https://lifeandsirens.com/listenertales/⁠

We all know rapid sequence intubation (RSI) is a powerful tool—but what happens when your patient isn’t quite ready for that paralytic push? In this episode, we break down the differences between RSI (Rapid Sequence Intubation) and DSI (Delayed Sequence Intubation), why DSI is gaining traction in EMS, and when slowing down might actually save your airway. We’ll talk about patient selection, sedation pearls, oxygenation strategies, and the real-world logistics of pulling off a DSI in the back of a rig. Whether you’re just learning airway management or want to level up your practice, this one’s for anyone who wants to get the tube safely—not just fast.As always, if you have a story to tell—funny, wild, heartbreaking, or unforgettable—you can share it through our website. We’d love to feature it on a future episode.Radio Reports – Listener Tales: ⁠https://lifeandsirens.com/listenertales/⁠

What’s it like to work EMS in the same community where you grew up, shop for groceries, and run into patients at Little League games? In this episode, we sit down with Austin Meador, EMS Captain and hometown responder, to talk about the challenges and rewards of working where you live. With over 15 years in the field—and parents who’ve served the same county for 43 years—Austin brings a unique perspective on community trust, burnout, boundaries, and pride in local service. Whether you work where you live or drive two counties away, this episode dives into what it really means to serve your own.As always, if you have a story to tell—funny, wild, heartbreaking, or unforgettable—you can share it through our website. We’d love to feature it on a future episode.Radio Reports – Listener Tales: ⁠https://lifeandsirens.com/listenertales/⁠

This week, Sophie brings on her very own 911 partner Ashley—an AEMT with sharp instincts, strong soft skills, and a sense of humor that gets them through the longest shifts. Together, they dive into what makes a great EMS team click beyond clinical scope.From unspoken cues in the heat of a call to how emotional intelligence plays out in tight spaces and high-stress moments, this episode is all about the real-life glue that holds field teams together.Whether you’re a seasoned provider or new to the truck, this is your invitation to reflect on the human side of EMS—and why your gut might just be your best tool.🎧 Ride along with Sophie & Ashley as they talk: • Navigating partnership and team chemistry • Reading each other without a word • When “just a feeling” changes the outcome • Why soft skills matter just as much as clinical skillsAs always, if you have a story to tell—funny, wild, heartbreaking, or unforgettable—you can share it through our website. We’d love to feature it on a future episode.Radio Reports - Listener Tales: ⁠https://lifeandsirens.com/listenertales/

Bradycardia might be slow, but managing it takes quick thinking. In this episode, we break down how to assess and treat bradycardia in both adult and pediatric patients—from when to observe to when to intervene. We’re talking pacing pearls, common rhythm pitfalls, and the dos and don’ts of Atropine (spoiler: it’s not always your go-to). Plus, we get into the critical differences in treating pediatric bradycardia, including when to act fast and why it’s usually a sign of something bigger. Whether it’s a sleepy sinus rhythm or a code-level concern, we’ve got you covered with real-world strategies for the field.As always, if you have a story to tell—funny, wild, heartbreaking, or unforgettable—you can share it through our website. We’d love to feature it on a future episode.Radio Reports – Listener Tales: ⁠https://lifeandsirens.com/listenertales/⁠

We just got back from FAST25, and let’s just say—FlightBridgeED knows how to put on a conference. In this episode, we’re recapping the highlights, the lessons, and the moments that stuck with us from this powerhouse event. From cutting-edge clinical talks to honest conversations about burnout and mental health, FAST25 brought together the best in prehospital education. We’re talking favorite sessions, unexpected takeaways, and why conferences like this matter so much for EMS growth and connection. If you missed it, don’t worry—we’ve got you.As always, if you have a story to tell—funny, wild, heartbreaking, or unforgettable—you can share it through our website. We’d love to feature it on a future episode.Radio Reports – Listener Tales: ⁠https://lifeandsirens.com/listenertales/⁠

You ran the call. You wrote the chart. Now we’re breaking it down. In this episode, we’re reviewing a real call submitted by one of our listeners—walking through the scenario, offering honest feedback, and talking about what went well (and what could’ve gone differently). It’s a no-judgment zone, just real talk from medics who’ve been there. Whether you’re new to the field or a seasoned provider, this kind of call dissection is the kind of learning we all wish we had more of.Big thanks to our submitter for trusting us with their case—and for helping turn a routine chart into an educational moment for everyone.As always, if you have a story to tell—funny, wild, heartbreaking, or unforgettable—you can share it through our website. We’d love to feature it on a future episode.Radio Reports – Listener Tales: ⁠https://lifeandsirens.com/listenertales/⁠

Would you rather deal with a combative patient in the back of the rig or a partner who won’t stop singing off-key show tunes for 12 hours? In this episode, we’re flipping the script and having a little fun with EMS “Would You Rather” questions—some clinical, some hilarious, and all painfully relatable. From gear failures to gross-out moments, we’re asking the tough (and ridiculous) questions you didn’t know you needed to answer. Play along, laugh with us, and maybe even challenge your crew on the next slow shift.We want to hear your answers! Take the "Would You Rather" quiz now! ⁠https://lifeandsirens.com/would-you-rather-ems-edition/⁠As always, if you have a story to tell—funny, wild, heartbreaking, or unforgettable—you can share it through our website. We’d love to feature it on a future episode.Radio Reports – Listener Tales: ⁠https://lifeandsirens.com/listenertales/⁠

Gunshot wounds aren't rare in EMS—they're weekend-normal. But your documentation? That needs to be exceptional. In this episode, we break down how to properly assess, treat, and document GSWs in a way that supports both patient care and potential legal proceedings. We walk through real-world narrative examples, highlight common documentation pitfalls, and discuss how your chart can play a role in everything from trauma care to testimony. Whether you're writing for the trauma team or the courtroom—your words matter.Episode blog post: ⁠https://lifeandsirens.com/scene-to-subpoena-what-gunshot-wound-documentation-really-means/As always, if you have a story to tell—funny, wild, heartbreaking, or unforgettable—you can share it through our website. We’d love to feature it on a future episode.Radio Reports - Listener Tales: ⁠https://lifeandsirens.com/listenertales/⁠