Wired to Fail: The Science of Human Error in EMS

Wired to Fail: The Science of Human Error in EMS

Author: Ross Orpet, Paramedic turned EMS Physician February 25, 2026 Duration: 11:17
What if the mistake wasn't your fault... but it's still your responsibility? That's the tension Shay Montgomery sits with every time she talks about the day she flew to a scene without the drug bag. Shay is a flight nurse and educator. At FAST 25, she gave one of the sharpest talks of the conference — not on a procedure or a drug, but on the science of why humans make mistakes and what we can actually do about it. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: Task Brackets — Your brain bundles repetitive actions into smooth automated sequences. The First Habit Rule — The first habit is permanently ingrained. Old habits lurk underneath new ones and surface under stress. Get it right the first time. Goal-Oriented Stimulus — Don't ask "Do I have everything?" Ask "Where are the things I need?" and physically point to them. The Preceptor Problem — Most preceptors feel unprepared. The goal isn't to make "mini me", it's to create independent critical thinkers. Shift Fatigue — Cognitive function degrades meaningfully at 16 hours. Just Culture — Human error is inevitable. Punishment doesn't fix the system. The guilty already feel terrible. They need peer support and system redesign.   RESOURCES: Join The Loud & Clear Fellowship    CONNECT WITH US: - Instagram- @emsloudandclear - YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@EMSLoudandClear - Website- www.emspodcast.com    CONNECT WITH SHEA: - TikTok: @flightnurseshay - Instagram: @flightnurseshay Interested in The Loud & Clear Fellowship? Book a free coaching call with us: emspodcast.com/free-coaching-call American Burn Association / ABLS: Enter the ABLS giveaway by June 30, 2026; the winner will be selected July 1, 2026. Loud & Clear listeners also get 10% off ABLS Now through August 31, 2026. Details: https://bit.ly/aba-loud-clear

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
The First 60 Seconds After ROSC: How To Prevent Re-Arrest [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:52
The First 60 Seconds After ROSC: How To Prevent Re-Arrest How do you improve your resuscitation systems beyond the ACLS algorithm? Will talks with Ian Blanchard, Senior Scientist for Alberta’s provincial EMS system about…
Post-ROSC Care and Pacing: Prove the Perfusion [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:06
Getting a pulse back feels like a win. Seeing pacer spikes and something that resembles a pulse feels reassuring. But in both situations, the monitor can make you feel better before the patient actually is.Geoff Murphy o…
Burn Care in EMS: What Actually Matters in the First 15 Minutes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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,…
Heat Stroke: Recognition, Cooling, and Transport Decisions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:32
What differentiates heat stroke from heat exhaustion? Once central nervous system dysfunction appears, every minute spent at an elevated core temperature increases the risk of permanent neurologic injury or death.Ross an…
The Three Building Blocks of Trust in EMS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:37
Trust is the architecture behind every patient interaction you run. Dr. Cory Scheer, author of Closing the Trust Gap, has identified three evidence-based building blocks of trust: competency, problem-solving, and care fo…
The Skill Is Not The Hard Part [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:33
The hardest part of a bad call is rarely the algorithm. In two different interviews I explore some human traps of running an EMS call. I talk with Danny and Rance from DNR Prehospital Education about a choking arrest, a…