Inside EMS21 Feb 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

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‘Culture eats strategy’: Rebuilding an EMS system from the ground up

In this episode of the Inside EMS podcast, host Chris Cebollero shares why he left the consulting and community paramedicine world to become chief of EMS and COO for EMS Team in Dayton, Ohio — a growi...

8 Maj 29min

Reality check: How close does TV get to real EMS?

This week on Inside EMS, it’s a no-holds-barred breakdown of HBO’s The Pitt — and surprisingly, it earns a solid thumbs up from the field. The show nails the feel of emergency medicine: nonstop chaos,...

24 Apr 32min

When the job follows you home

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17 Apr 37min

Online EMS education: More than just recorded lectures

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10 Apr 39min

Inside EMS co-host debate: Street time or straight to medic?

Things get intense on this episode of Inside EMS as hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson tackle an age-old industry debate: should EMTs spend time on a truck before going to paramedic school or is ...

27 Mars 28min

Stop guessing your blood gases

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20 Mars 30min

How everyday actions shape EMS culture

This week on Inside EMS, hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson take a practical look at how leadership — both formal and informal — shapes the culture of an EMS organization. The hosts break down th...

13 Mars 28min

Stop leading EMS like it’s a bar fight

“The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.” ― Sun Tzu, The Art of War This week on Inside EMS, host Chris Cebollero brings a fresh interpretation to Sun Tzu’s ancient text with his latest...

6 Mars 30min