EMS professionals are challenged to balance work, family, and other obligations while also staying or striving for mental and physical fitness. The Everyday EMS Athlete is a regular column to recognize and learn from other EMS professionals that are setting and meeting fitness goals. This edition was contributed by Paramedic and founder of the Fit Responder Bryan Fass.

Q: What is your EMS job?
I am a public safety injury prevention, patient handling ergonomics and fitness specialist/consultant.

Q: What are your athletic pursuits and goals?
Functional and diverse training of all types. Life moves and is unpredictable so we must train that way. I strive to constantly challenge my body through all types of training modalities. From traditional weight training, power lifting, tactical-training, anaerobic threshold training, functional conditioning the list and workouts are truly endless.

Q: Do you have race, lifestyle changes, or other accomplishments you are particularly proud of? If yes, please share and describe.
I am proud that the advanced conditioning and training techniques that I employ have allowed me to consistently run an 8 minute mile 5k, I can still sprint a 40 in under 5.5 seconds, I can still safely use 110 lb dumbbells with perfect form and can hold my own with SWAT and Military folks much younger then me. Consistency is the key and the best challenge is against myself!

Q: Can you share a few tips to help other EMS professionals to set and accomplish fitness goals?
Be consistent with your fitness and wellness. It truly has to be a lifestyle and a dedication to yourself second to none. To make fitness and wellness a lifestyle, something that defines you as a person of integrity and steadfastness it must carry through to all aspects of your life. Nutrition, dedication to fitness, wellness and self care. Above all else it is simple consistency that makes anything possible, especially fitness. We can all make excuses NOT to workout out but the true mark of dedication is making excuses to workout.

Q: How can readers connect with you or learn more about what you are doing?
Fit Responder Blog
FitResponder.com
Fit Responder YouTube Channel

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Watching this video of SALT Airway Insertion was an assignment in the first learning plan for my hybrid paramedic refresher. Of course as a long time advocate of incorporating social media content into course work I was a fan from the start. The video is straightforward, well made by a couple of paramedics, covers the basics of insertions, and provides some scenarios for me to consider using the SALT Airway.

SALT Airway Product Review from the Everyday EMS Tips archives.

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From the outstanding “Remember Two Things” series by Steve Whitehead on EMS1.com

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Best part of this video is the description, “For EMS week, the Hillsborough County Supervisors always cook breakfast for the Paramedics, EMTs, 1st Responders, …”

What a great reminder that EMS Week should be first about honoring and thanking EMS instead of asking EMS to do something additional like a health fair, open house, or other type of special event or project.

How are you planning to thank EMS professionals in your community during EMS Week 2012?

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Paramedic, EMS educator, graphic designer, photographer, and my good friend Kyle Bates shares some tips for new EMS instructors about making presentations and keeping PowerPoint slides simple and useful to the audience.

In a much older video I share 5 essential PowerPoint skills for EMS educators

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EMS professionals are challenged to balance work, family, and other obligations while also staying or striving for mental and physical fitness. The Everyday EMS Athlete is a regular column to recognize and learn from other EMS professionals that are setting and meeting fitness goals. This edition was contributed by Paramedic/Firefighter and founder of www.EMSFIT.com Jason Arney-O’Neil.

Q: What is your EMS job?

Q: What are your athletic pursuits and goals?

Finishing swim leg of a tri

Q: Do you have race, lifestyle changes, or other accomplishments you are particularly proud of? If yes, please share and describe.

Triona Finisher

Q: Can you share a few tips to help other EMS professionals to set and accomplish fitness goals?

• Make bets.  Here’s a good daily/weekly bet you can make with your partner(s): Wear a pedometer, and whoever has the most steps after your set period of time wins a prize (maybe lunch).
• Advertise your goals.  People will ask you how your progress is going, you’ll avoid telling them you quit your goal.
• Bring your friends.  It’s alot easier to stick to a goal if someone else shares the same goal.
• Find fitness at work.  Stay on your feet as much as possible, and carry something in your hands so it looks like you’re going somewhere important.
• Eat Healthy.  Motivation needs energy, eating healthy should be second nature and will give you lots of energy.  Not already eating healthy? try a paleo diet (eat like your cave-dwelling ancestors).
• Take a break.  Get your sleep, and don’t sweat the small stuff.  Your fitness goals depend on your rest
  

  Fun run

  .

Q: Is there an organization that supports your training and racing efforts?

None at this time.  But I am looking for sponsors.

Log cleans

Q: How can readers connect with you or learn more about what you are doing?

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At the 2011 National Association of EMS Educators Conference I was asked to share three tips for new EMTs and Paramedics. What are your tips for new EMS professionals?

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Nearly every member of your organization has a camera in their pocket. Start capturing your year in pictures today. Take photos during training, community events, employee celebrations, and more. Then use a simple image editing program to make a rotating slideshow, add music, and upload it to YouTube. This video from Mid Georgia Ambulance is exactly the type of video you want to rise to the top of YouTube search results. The themes are clear – we are good people and we care for each other and our community. Nicely done!

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News video of paramedics in Texas that responded to a school shooting.

A few thoughts:

1. After a high profile incident does your service issue a statement to local media about the EMS response?

2. Do you contact local media and invite them to interview responders?

3. Use social media tools like Facebook and Twitter to engage with local media.

4. Train with local law enforcement and school officials on shootings at schools.

5. Pre-plan a television interview location, props, and staff attire. I like the set-up in the video. High visibility of the service with a clean ambulance and well dressed and sharp looking paramedics.

6. Make sure to link to videos from your department Facebook page and embed in the agency blog.

Anything else come to mind for you after watching?

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Some time in 2012 Dey Pharma released a new version of the EpiPen. Visit their website to learn more about the device.

If you call their 800 number you can request a trainer and training video. I just called and hope to receive a trainer soon.

Do you know when the new EpiPen was released?

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