Steve, Dan, and Holly are back after an extended hiatus due to COVID-19. Listen as the trio discuss how COVID has impacted their lives both professionally and personally.

Compassion fatigue and the impact of the Coronavirus on healthcare workers across multiple disciplines are discussed. Steve discusses one of his recent COVID-related cardiac arrest calls and the changes EMS is facing in the waking of the pandemic.

Steve, Dan, and Holly return to discuss the pathway to a successful internship. The trio talks about how formative internship is for students and begins answering questions submitted by prospective students. The importance of studying protocols is highlighted; many agencies require that new interns be competent with their specific protocol. If possible, seek internships outside of areas that are familiar. Agencies with high call volumes allow for ample opportunities to practice a variety of medical skills in a short amount of time.

The trio details the stress of the first day of internship, and what students can expect. Adaptation is key; different agencies operate differently and have their own unique challenges. Steve reminisces about his internship, and how the system he worked in operated. Holly, Dan, and Steve each give their number one tip for success during the internship. The importance of attitude is discussed, as well as being open to learning from professionals with years of experience.

Steve reviews how to regroup after being stumped on a call. The trio talks about favorite qualities in their respective preceptors. Qualities that are important for emergency medical providers to cultivate are debated. To wrap up the podcast, the trio discusses common issues paramedics can run into, and the importance of self-care.

Dan, Holly, and Steve return to discuss resiliency and its importance in emergency medical services. Dan and Holly open by highlighting their attendance at the Train the Trainer course for the FBI Officer Resiliency course. The definition of resiliency is debated, and the trio talks about how each individual will reflect resiliency differently. Steve recaps how his parents instilled resiliency in him from a young age, through de-stigmatizing psychological counseling.

Holly and Dan further detail the organizational components of their course, and its emphasis on teaching resiliency early. Story-telling was focused on in the course, as a way to help everyone open up. Holly and Dan review the science behind dealing with stress and building resiliency. One main focus of the course was ABC: activating event, breathe, and then dealing with the consequences. Understanding how the human brain and body react to stress is a key element in dealing with the effects of that stress in all environments.

Holly and Dan further discuss how identifying values helped them learn more about themselves. Setting goals that correspond with one’s values will make reaching those goals easier. The trio calls Scott, a fire chief from Texas, who recounts a story about finding peace and appreciating our individual journeys. The group highlights the importance of practicing gratitude.  The trio wrap up the podcast reflecting on the material discussed in the FBI Officer Resiliency course, and how they apply the philosophies outlined into their own lives.

Steve, Dan, and Holly are joined by special guest, Dr. Brenda Tillman of Readiness Group, to discuss how we as first responders can deal with chronic stress. In today’s world of Covid, natural disasters, social unrest, and political division, it’s hard to maintain our sanity when you throw in a stressful job on top of it. Dr. Tillman reviews ways we can practice good self-care to stay sane and improve our resilience.