Mass Casualty Readiness, Burn Decisions, and the Fundamentals That Save Lives

The calls that scare clinicians the most are often the ones they have the fewest opportunities to practice. So what happens during a rare, high consequence emergency? First, Jennifer Barnhart of Austin-Travis County EMS and Sergeant Luke Serrato of the Austin Police Department discuss the response to a mass casualty shooting on Austin’s Sixth Street. Then, Ross talks with Allen Wolfe about three unusual burn and blast-injury cases. They discuss when a smaller burn may still warrant transfer to a burn center, how to recognize an airway that may require an early surgical approach, what a blast mechanism can reveal about hidden injuries, and why protecting burned tissue cannot come at the expense of protecting the airway. In this episode, you’ll learn: How shared language and closed-loop communication help EMS and law enforcement move together  Why responders may need to pass ambulatory or vocal patients to reach those who cannot self-rescue What disrupted tympanic membranes, clothing patterns, circumferential facial burns can reveal   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 and a chance to win a free subscription. Enter before August 1, 2026.   Guests: Jennifer Barnhart, Clinical Specialist, Austin-Travis County EMS Sergeant Luke Serrato, Austin Police Department Allen Wolfe, Senior Director of Clinical Education and Clinical Nurse Specialist at Life Link III