Hot as a hare, mad as a hatter: Cracking the toxidrome code
Inside EMS9 Touko 2025

Hot as a hare, mad as a hatter: Cracking the toxidrome code

In this episode of the Inside EMS podcast, hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson dig deep into one of EMS's most overlooked (and often forgotten) topics — toxidromes. You might remember the word from paramedic class, but today’s street calls demand more than a vague memory. With patients taking everything from grandma’s Ativan to street-made speed, understanding toxidromes is crucial for making quick, accurate clinical calls.

The crew breaks down the five major toxidromes every medic should know: anticholinergic, cholinergic, opioid, sympathomimetic and sedative-hypnotic. From classic mnemonics like “mad as a hatter” to real-life stories of fire ant poisonings, this episode serves up practical knowledge with EMS-grade humor.

Chris and Kelly cover telltale signs (sweaty vs. dry skin, pinpoint vs. dilated pupils), treatment pearls of wisdom (easy on that naloxone, folks), and the real-world complications of polypharmacy. Plus, they touch on lesser-known players like serotonin syndrome and hallucinogens.

This one’s a refresher you didn’t know you needed — but you’ll be grateful when you respond to your next overdose call.

Memorable quotes

  • “Antidotes are overrated. Supportive care will take care of most of the toxidromes out there.” — Kelly Grayson

  • “If they’re pleasantly stuporous but breathing effectively, it’s not an overdose. It’s just a dose.” — Kelly Grayson

  • “Narcan is not a punishment, it's a treatment. You don't slam it, you bump it just a little bit, just enough to get them breathing again.” — Kelly Grayson

Enjoying the show? Email 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)

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

‘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-rammin...

21 Helmi 202528min

Why every EMS agency needs a mental health game plan

Why every EMS agency needs a mental health game plan

In this episode of Inside EMS, hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson are joined by Nick Maltby, chief of service for New Hartford Volunteer Ambulance Service, and a clinical psychologist specializin...

7 Helmi 202529min

News flash: Don’t treat patients with an expired certification

News flash: Don’t treat patients with an expired certification

In this week’s episode of the Inside EMS Podcast, hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson discuss some of the biggest news stories in EMS from the month. First up: A fire chief in Colorado is under in...

31 Tammi 202526min

Male-centric medicine: Why women’s health is EMS’s next big challenge

Male-centric medicine: Why women’s health is EMS’s next big challenge

In this episode of Inside EMS, Chris and Kelly are joined by Tim Redding, founder and CEO of Emergency Education Consultants, to explore a topic that’s reshaping how we think about medicine: male-cent...

24 Tammi 202528min

The science behind shock: Why providers must understand the RAAS

The science behind shock: Why providers must understand the RAAS

Ever wonder what really happens inside the body during shock? This week, Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson dive into the renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS).  From vasoconstriction to fluid re...

17 Tammi 202524min

‘Be curious, not judgmental’: What Ted Lasso can teach EMS

‘Be curious, not judgmental’: What Ted Lasso can teach EMS

In this episode of Inside EMS, hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson explore leadership insights drawn from a recent post by The Humbled Medic blog, which highlights lessons from the hit Apple TV sh...

10 Tammi 202518min

When the unthinkable happens: 2024’s most unbelievable EMS calls

When the unthinkable happens: 2024’s most unbelievable EMS calls

This year, EMS brought more than its fair share of jaw-dropping moments, and as we wrap up 2024, we’re revisiting five of the craziest stories that made headlines. From a massive chemical plant fire i...

20 Joulu 202425min

Pay to stay: Why EMS providers are voting with their feet

Pay to stay: Why EMS providers are voting with their feet

EMS pay and retention – or the lack thereof – is at the heart of this week’s episode of Inside EMS. Hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson tackle a news item out of Dougherty County, Georgia, where a...

13 Joulu 202424min

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