Our crew was dispatched to a high-energy rollover MVC with a patient ejection, a situation that typically demands aggressive trauma protocols. But what happens when the patient is equipped with a HeartMate II, a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) that pumps blood for failing hearts? The irony is that this extremely sophisticated medical device, which keeps the patient alive, also prevents our team from gathering traditional vital signs like a palpable pulse or standard blood pressure measurements. How does the team manage a trauma resuscitation when the patient’s circulation is continuous flow rather than a heartbeat? The answer lies in going back to the basics of trauma care. We’re joined by Chelsea Putman, FP-C, and Robert Steele, RN.
Interested in obtaining CE credit for this episode? Visit OnlineAscend.com to learn more. Listeners can purchase individual episode credits or subscribe to the Critical Care Review Bundle and gain access to all episode CE Credits.
AMPED is available on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, and more. To listen to the episode or catch up on past discussions, visit https://ampedpodcast.libsyn.com/air-methods-prehospital-education-podcast-ep-60-no-pulse-no-problem. To join the conversation, use the hashtag #AMPEDpod on social media.
A brutal incident where a woman is hit by a truck leaves her with a multitude of injuries, most notably both of her legs bent into a position best described as “frog legs.” She’s in good spirits and her vitals are stable, but her legs bent at that angle mean she cannot fit into the air medical team’s helicopter. How does the team get her legs back into place without causing further trauma or risking her stable vitals? Complicating factors include extremely uneven ground in a cow pasture and a very high risk of infection, as the team and patient are surrounded by cow patties. There is no training for this exact scenario, so how does the air medical crew adapt and apply the training they have to this unique situation? This episode of AMPED digs in as we’re joined by Aaron Botzow, NRP, FP-C, Drew Gill, BSN, RN, CEN, and Michael Eastman DO.
AMPED is available on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, and more. To listen to the episode or catch up on past discussions, visit https://ampedpodcast.libsyn.com/air-methods-prehospital-education-podcast-ep-58-the-muck-and-the-mechanism. To join the conversation, use the hashtag #AMPEDpod on social media.
In an incredible twist of irony, this month’s case focuses on our flight crew loading into their helicopter to be dispatched to… a patient who has fallen out of a helicopter. From a height of approximately 40 feet and at a speed of 30 knots, our patient has an abundance of injuries, which requires our team to remember their axiom: “Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.” This episode also introduces an important question: How do we intervene in different kinds of shock? Our patient had three different kinds: Hemorrhagic, neurogenic, and obstructive shock. Listen in as our guest, along with our panel, deconstructs one of the rarest cases in AMPED history. We’re joined by Matthew Habbe NREMT-P.
AMPED is available on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, and more. To listen to the episode or catch up on past discussions, visit https://ampedpodcast.libsyn.com/air-methods-prehospital-education-podcast-ep-57-the-gravity-of-the-fall. To join the conversation, use the hashtag #AMPEDpod on social media.
A common aphorism in the medical community comes from Dr. Theodore Woodward who said in the 1940s, “When you hear hoofbeats behind you, think of horses, not zebras.” It’s a way of reminding medical practitioners that the most common explanation is usually correct. In other words, Occam’s Razor is usually correct. But what happens when the most common explanation isn’t correct? What happens when you turn around and find a zebra looking at you? In this month’s episode, our team finds a pediatric patient who seems to have had a stroke. Stroke is very uncommon in children, but that doesn’t mean it never happens. Listen in as our team starts with the basics, analyzes the feedback, and arrives at their conclusion. We’re joined by Maria Milagros Galardi and William McCray, RN.
AMPED is available on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, and more. To listen to the episode or catch up on past discussions, visit https://ampedpodcast.libsyn.com/air-methods-prehospital-education-podcast-ep-56-the-zebra-call. To join the conversation, use the hashtag #AMPEDpod on social media.
A critically ill Influenza A patient, fully intubated and struggling to breathe, requires emergency transport for possible ECMO. Even under ideal conditions, a case like this demands intensive care and presents significant challenges. But when extreme weather disrupts key equipment, the situation becomes even more complex. In this episode, discover how our team navigated these obstacles to support the patient’s recovery and survival. We’re joined by Matt Johnson, NRP Flight Paramedic and Anna Schmick, BSN, RN, CFRN Flight Nurse.
AMPED is available on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, and more. To listen to the episode or catch up on past discussions, visit https://ampedpodcast.libsyn.com/air-methods-prehospital-education-podcast-ep-54-chilling-complications. To join the conversation, use the hashtag #AMPEDpod on social media.
Stormy skies or sunny days, Air Methods is always ready to respond. Inclement weather can complicate patient transport, but with our deep expertise, diverse resources, and commitment to safety, we work tirelessly to get all patients the right care, at the right time, in the right setting.
If weather conditions prevent aircraft from flying, our work does not stop. Call us anytime, and our team will walk through available options with you to guide the best next step. When necessary, we coordinate ground transport to ensure every patient still receives timely, critical care.
We understand how important it is to stay informed during patient transport. That is why our team provides:
Our FAA-recognized Safety Management System reflects a strong safety culture that guides every decision we make. Advanced protocols allow us to protect both our patients and our crews, ensuring that no matter the challenge, safety remains our top priority.
Together, the highly trained teams in our Operational Control Center and AirCom dispatch play an essential role in our operations, our safety infrastructure, and in helping find the right transport solution.
Our Operational Control Center uses a range of advanced technologies to predict and track weather conditions. This enables crews to plan ahead and remain prepared even when the forecast changes unexpectedly.
When weather rolls in, we work to find solutions.
No two transport situations are the same, which is why our diverse fleet is designed to handle a variety of scenarios.
Day or night, rain or shine, Air Methods is committed to supporting all communities with rapid response and exceptional patient care every day of the year. When weather strikes, we are a partner you can trust to help navigate the next steps and keep every patient moving safely. To learn more about our safety technologies and programs, visit our safety page here.
A car accident on the highway sees the vehicle rollover nine times and ejects our patient out of the vehicle with a multitude of life threatening injuries. Our team refers to our patient as the sickest trauma patient any of them had ever seen. The outlook is very bleak, but our team perseveres and gives every effort to help increase the patient’s odds of survival. While not ultimately successful, this episode provides critical insight and valuable lessons learned from our team about how important providing the very best care is, even when the cause appears lost. We’re joined by Mark Fowler NRP, FP-C.
AMPED is available on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, and more. To listen to the episode or catch up on past discussions, visit https://ampedpodcast.libsyn.com/air-methods-prehospital-education-podcast-ep-53-beyond-the-protocol-a-trauma-teams-enduring-final-commitment. To join the conversation, use the hashtag #AMPEDpod on social media.
A motorcycle accident leaves our patient with a litany of serious injuries and severe bleeding, yet he remains alert and talking to the team… but that’s not the only one he talks to. Our patient puts his life in the hands of a higher power and our Air Methods crew as they work to address his numerous injuries and ailments and get him to a hospital. Hear from the patient himself through this harrowing experience. We’re joined by patient Kyle Hoover, Sarah Baker, RN, PHRN, CEN, CCRN, CFRN, and Jesse Weller, NRP, FPC.
AMPED is available on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, and more. To listen to the episode or catch up on past discussions, visit https://ampedpodcast.libsyn.com/air-methods-prehospital-education-podcast-ep-52-inner-mechanics-a-motorcycle-accident-and-the-art-of-resilience. To join the conversation, use the hashtag #AMPEDpod on social media.
Our team is dispatched to a scene expecting to assist a pregnant woman in footling breech labor—but when they arrive, the baby has already been delivered and is receiving Basic Life Support (BLS). She’s in critical condition, and the team must act fast. How do they pivot in this high-stakes moment? What life-saving steps do they take as the baby goes into cardiac arrest? As is often the case, the key is going back to the basics. Tune in for this intense and emotional episode, featuring an unexpected twist you won’t see coming. We’re joined by Breanna Bingel RN, BSN, PHRN, TNS, CFRN, CEN, TCRN, CTRN. As always, thanks for listening and fly safe!
AMPED is available on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, and more. To listen to the episode or catch up on past discussions, visit https://ampedpodcast.libsyn.com/air-methods-prehospital-education-podcast-ep-50-theres-no-place-like-home-or-the-basics. To join the conversation, use the hashtag #AMPEDpod on social media.
When two flight teams are dispatched to a scene, the first to arrive typically takes the sickest patient—but what happens when conditions on the ground shift that plan? How do teams seamlessly tag in and out to ensure the best care? In this episode of the AMPED Podcast, we break down a high-speed highway collision where multiple patients suffer severe trauma, including traumatic brain injuries, Beck’s triad, tension pneumothorax, and flail chest. With a special guest ride-along, our team navigates critical decisions and life-saving interventions in a fast-paced transport to the hospital. Tune in to hear how teamwork, adaptability, and expertise come together in the face of chaos. We’re joined by Breanna Bingel RN, BSN, PHRN, TNS, CFRN, CEN, TCRN, CTRN; Kayce Thompson, BSN, RN, Flight Nurse; Spenser Rich, RN-Paramedic, CFRN, FPC; Christopher Wright, BSN, RN, CFRN and Shawnee Trindle, ER RN. As always, thanks for listening and fly safe!
AMPED is available on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, and more. To listen to the episode or catch up on past discussions, visit https://ampedpodcast.libsyn.com/air-methods-prehospital-education-podcast-ep-49-tag-youre-it. To join the conversation, use the hashtag #AMPEDpod on social media.
A pinkie promise is one you can’t break—and for our patient in this month’s episode, it was a lifeline. Stricken with a life-threatening COVID infection, he vowed to his wife that he would pull through. And he did—but not without countless obstacles along the way. Our team fought not only his severe COVID case but also a relentless pneumonia infection that ultimately led to ECMO, a last-resort intervention. Along the way, they faced unprecedented challenges: transporting him in a prone position for the first time in over 20 years, navigating an unexpected hailstorm mid-transport, and witnessing his incredible journey to recovery—including a life-changing lung transplant. Tune in to hear this extraordinary story of resilience, innovation, and the power of a promise. We’re joined by Jeff Dickson, NRP, FP-C and the Wilkins family. As always, thanks for listening and fly safe!
AMPED is available on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, and more. To listen to the episode or catch up on past discussions, visit https://ampedpodcast.libsyn.com/air-methods-prehospital-education-podcast-ep-48-the-pinkie-promise To join the conversation, use the hashtag #AMPEDpod on social media.
The holidays are a season of hope, a time to believe in the extraordinary. Remember the classic holiday film Miracle on 34th Street? Just when faith seems lost, a series of unexpected events brings about the impossible. This week on the Air Methods Prehospital Education Podcast, we share a real-life story that captures that same spirit—a tale of resilience, determination, and the power of preparation in the face of a life-threatening pediatric emergency. Picture this: a child in cardiac arrest, the festive joy overshadowed by an urgent fight to save a life. Our crew, confronted with a medical mystery and a young life in peril, refused to give up. Like Kris Kringle himself, they needed more than just skill—they needed a touch of magic, a glimmer of the extraordinary.
Join us as the AMPED crew—Medical Director Dr. Wilmas, Flight Nurse Nyssa Hattaway, and I—delve into this inspiring case. Together, we explore how preparation, quick thinking, and a series of fortunate events came together to save a child’s life. It’s a story that reminds us that even in the darkest moments, hope—like the spirit of the holidays—can shine through. Interested in obtaining CE credit for this episode? Visit OnlineAscend.com to learn more. Listeners can purchase individual episode credits or subscribe to the Critical Care Review Bundle and gain access to all episode CE Credits.
AMPED is available on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, and more. To listen to the episode or catch up on past discussions, visit https://ampedpodcast.libsyn.com/air-methods-prehospital-education-podcast-ep-47-miracle-in-the-desert. To join the conversation, use the hashtag #AMPEDpod on social media.