‘You hope it never happens’: Responding to an MCI on Bourbon Street
Inside EMS21 Helmi 2025

‘You hope it never happens’: Responding to an MCI on Bourbon Street

New Year’s celebrations in New Orleans are always a spectacle, but this year, tragedy struck at 3:15 a.m. A truck barreled into the crowds, triggering what first responders feared was a vehicle-ramming attack. Within moments, New Orleans EMS was in full mass casualty mode — triaging, treating and coordinating with law enforcement amid the unfolding chaos. But things quickly escalated. As Chief Bill Salmeron recounts, responders soon discovered not only multiple critical patients, but also a shootout, a downed suspect and the chilling realization that explosive devices had been planted nearby.

In this gripping episode, Chief Salmeron shares the inside story of how his team handled one of the most intense incidents in recent New Orleans history. He walks through the initial response, communication challenges and how well-drilled interagency coordination played a pivotal role. But beyond the logistics, he also speaks to the emotional toll — how EMS crews handled the psychological weight of triaging patients, working alongside grieving families and processing the magnitude of the event in the days after.

Top quotes

“You don’t see that many fatalities in one place with possible explosives, an active shooter — or at least you shouldn’t in a civilian EMS world — but we do.” — Chief Bill Salmeron

"Anybody can command a scene. You don't have to be a paramedic. You don't have to be a chief or a doctor or whatever it is." — Chief Bill Salmeron

Enjoying the show? Contact the Inside EMS team at theshow@ems1.com to share ideas, suggestions and feedback, or let us know if you’d like to join us as a guest.

Jaksot(717)

Whole blood, dual shocks and why the AHA still doesn’t get us

Whole blood, dual shocks and why the AHA still doesn’t get us

This week on the Inside EMS podcast, Dr. Peter Antevy returns for another round in the hot seat, and he’s not holding back. In this jam-packed episode, he and host Chris Cebollero tackle trending topi...

21 Marras 202530min

TikTok star Jimmy Apple is challenging EMS dogma with data and kindness

TikTok star Jimmy Apple is challenging EMS dogma with data and kindness

This week on the Inside EMS podcast, host Kelly Grayson sits down with Jimmy Apple — known as the “EMS Avenger” on TikTok — to explore how he’s challenging long‑standing EMS norms and delivering evide...

14 Marras 202528min

How to lead without being that boss

How to lead without being that boss

Let’s face it — most discussions on leadership sound like someone regurgitating a business best seller. Not this time. In this week’s episode of the Inside EMS podcast, cohosts Chris Cebollero and Kel...

7 Marras 202526min

AHA 2025 updates are here: Cue the overreactions and the protocol rewrites

AHA 2025 updates are here: Cue the overreactions and the protocol rewrites

In this week’s episode of the Inside EMS podcast, cohosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson dive into the 2025 AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC and why, for most EMS systems and crews, this feels more lik...

31 Loka 202523min

Booze, blood and blurred lines: Should EMS play cop?

Booze, blood and blurred lines: Should EMS play cop?

This week on the Inside EMS podcast, hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson dig into a hot-button issue lighting up EMS forums: DUI blood draws by paramedics. In Vanderburgh County, Indiana, a new pr...

17 Loka 202523min

Train harder, lead louder: What tomorrow’s medics really need

Train harder, lead louder: What tomorrow’s medics really need

Sure, AI and digital systems are reshaping EMS, but at the core? It’s still about people. In this week’s episode of the Inside EMS podcast, cohosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson tackle the disconn...

10 Loka 202524min

From blame to burnout: How negativity takes over your shift

From blame to burnout: How negativity takes over your shift

This week on Inside EMS, ChrisCebolleroand Kelly Grayson dive deep into the dark side of workplace culture — the seven types of negativity that poison morale, ruin teamwork and chip away at your love ...

3 Loka 202526min

Sepsis math: Every hour = 8% closer to the morgue

Sepsis math: Every hour = 8% closer to the morgue

You know the drill — “patient feeling weak,” “not quite right,” maybe alittle confusion. But what if that vague dispatch hides a killer? This week on the Inside EMS podcast, hosts Chris Cebollero and ...

19 Syys 202521min

Suosittua kategoriassa Politiikka ja uutiset

uutiscast
aikalisa
politiikan-puskaradio
ootsa-kuullut-tasta-2
rss-ootsa-kuullut-tasta
tervo-halme
rss-podme-livebox
et-sa-noin-voi-sanoo-esittaa
otetaan-yhdet
rss-vaalirankkurit-podcast
rss-asiastudio
the-ulkopolitist
rss-sinivalkoinen-islam
rss-hyvaa-huomenta-bryssel
rss-raha-talous-ja-politiikka
rss-kaikki-uusiksi
rss-tasta-on-kyse-ivan-puopolo-verkkouutiset
aihe
rss-aijat-hopottaa-podcast
rss-girls-finish-f1rst