Burn Care in EMS: What Actually Matters in the First 15 Minutes

Burn Care in EMS: What Actually Matters in the First 15 Minutes

Author: Ross Orpet, Paramedic turned EMS Physician August 24, 2026 Duration: 1:02:04
Burn patients can create a disproportionate amount of anxiety. The calls are uncommon, the injuries can be visually overwhelming, and it is easy to get distracted by the burn itself.Ross and Will talk with Mark Johnston, a longtime Advanced Burn Life Support instructor and burn program leader at Regions Hospital, about simplifying prehospital burn care. Mark explains how most burn patients should be approached and why you need to resist the urge to make wound care the first priority. They also dig into the findings that should make you truly concerned about an inhalation injury, how to estimate total body surface area, and which smaller burns still warrant burn-center evaluation.In this episode, you’ll learn: Which airway findings increase concern for inhalation injury Why the simple 125/250/500 mL-per-hour approach can be more useful in the field than calculating a full Parkland formula How mechanism changes your priorities in thermal, chemical, electrical, and enclosed-space burns How wet dressings and aggressive wound care can increase heat loss or distract clinicians from early interventions   Resources:Want more? Sign up for our weekly newsletter, The Confidence Dispatch.Want individualized coaching and mentorship? Check out The Loud & Clear Fellowship.Just have a question and want some personalized help? Book a free coaching call with us.Interested in ABLS Now? Our listeners get 10% off through the end of August.The Emergency Mind: Wiring Your Brain for Performance Under Pressure, by Dan Dworkis, MD PhDPeak Performance Under Pressure, by Stephen HearnsEpisode 109: Understanding the EMS Power CurveGuests:Mark Johnston, BSN, RN, TCRN, Burn Program Manager at Regions Hospital

Stepping out of the classroom and into the rig is where the real learning begins, but that transition often leaves even seasoned providers with a lingering doubt. Loud & Clear: EMS Guiding Principles addresses that gap directly, moving past the basic protocols to explore the foundational reasoning that makes for excellent prehospital care. Hosted by Ross Orpet, a paramedic who now practices as an EMS physician, this podcast digs into the "why" behind the algorithms. It’s built on the understanding that no textbook can possibly cover every unique scenario you’ll encounter on the road. Instead of just listing steps, each episode examines the core principles that guide critical decisions when the situation doesn't fit a neat checklist. You’ll hear discussions that bridge the gap between field experience and medical rationale, focusing on the adaptive thinking required for complex emergencies. This is advanced continuing education designed for paramedics, EMTs, and all prehospital providers who feel that standard training was just the beginning. The conversations in this series aim to solidify your clinical judgment, helping you build confidence through comprehension. By tuning in, you gain access to a deeper level of professional development, where the objective is to think clearer and act more decisively, no matter how many days you have on the job. This podcast serves as a vital resource for those committed to mastering their craft beyond the basics.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Loud & Clear: EMS Guiding Principles - Advanced Continuing Education for Paramedics, EMTs & Prehospital Care Providers
Podcast Episodes
When to Act: Mastering Vasopressors in 2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:14
What do you do when the blood pressure monitor shows a number you don’t like? Most providers hit the button again—but what if it’s real? In this episode, we’re joined by critical care transport specialist James Boomhower…
The 5 Levels of EMS Mental Breakdown & How to Escape Them [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:23
Why do some paramedics stay unshakable under pressure while others crumble on the exact same call? The answer isn't about years of experience—it's about understanding the neuroscience of stress and having the right menta…
Toxidromes Demystified [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:13
Understanding the toxidromes provides you with vital diagnostic tools in high-stakes environments. In this episode, we break down the clinical patterns that define. Want to stay ahead of the top 1% in EMS and build real…
EXCITING NEWS! FIND OUT WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:56
Were have we been? Well, the truth is, we've been incredibly busy working on some really exciting projects. If you're interested in joining the founding members cohort of The Loud & Clear Fellowship Course reach out to m…