The St.Emlyn’s Podcast

This bonus episode is a quick-fire collection of clinical pearls drawn from across the St Emlyn’s podcast in 2025. Short, practical, and deliberately focused, these are the moments that make you stop and think: “That’s useful — I want that in my head.” There’s minimal commentary and no deep dives. Each clip stands on its own as a clear takeaway, designed to be listened to in one go or dipped back into when needed. In this episode Practical triage language that lowers thresholds and prompts earlier action Time-critical decision-making in pre-hospital thoracotomy Resuscitation physiology and why diastolic pressure matters Intraosseous access and the reality of long-term complications Analgesia strategies for rib fractures, including posterior injuries Hydrofluoric acid burns and why improvised treatment is a trap Recognising and acting on decompression illness Cognitive HALOs and preparing for rare, high-load decision moments Building excellence in teams, not just avoiding failure Compassionate resuscitation and the value of the pause This episode is designed to be saved, revisited, and shared — the kind of learning that pays off later. Featured episodes Clips in this episode are taken from the following full St Emlyn’s episodes: Episode 257 — Ten Second Triage with Sean Brayford-Harris Episode 270 — Insights on Cannabis Edibles, Pre-Hospital Thoracotomy and more Episode 266 — Monthly Round Up (February 2025): Skills Fade and Resuscitation Targets Episode 260 — Monthly Round Up (December 2024): IO Access and Chest Trauma Episode 268 — Top Papers of 2024 from The Big Sick Conference Episode 275 — Targeted Resuscitation and Hydrofluoric Acid Burns Episode 263 — Hyperbaric Medicine with Jeff Kerrie Episode 277 — Cognitive HALOs and Advanced Simulation Training Episode 264 — High Performance Teams with Dan Dworkis Episode 258 — Compassionate Resuscitation with Matt Hooper All full episodes are available in the podcast feed. About MedPod Learn MedPod Learn is a medical podcast player designed to help turn listening into structured learning, with tools to support reflection, CPD, and appraisal. Available on the App Store and Google Play.

Some of the hardest moments in emergency medicine aren’t hard because they’re complicated. They’re hard because they’re rare — and when they arrive, you’re relying on things you last thought about a long time ago. This final episode in the Best Bits of 2025 series is the “file it away” collection: rare, high-stakes situations where preparation is largely cognitive, decisions are time-critical, and there may be no second chance. The clips in this episode are drawn from full St Emlyn’s episodes released during 2025 and focus on recognition, decision-making, and human factors in uncommon but consequential scenarios. In this episode, we explore How community response and live video have changed what happens before patients reach hospital Recognising and acting on decompression illness, even when presentations are subtle Cognitive HALOs — what happens to our thinking in rare, high-acuity situations Junctional haemorrhage and the role of the abdominal aortic junctional tourniquet Human decision-making under extreme pressure, illustrated through aviation medicine This episode is designed to be listened to slowly, and returned to when needed — the kind of learning that pays off long after you first hear it. Featured episodes Clips in this episode are taken from the following full St Emlyn’s episodes: Episode 262 — GoodSAM Update with Mark Wilson (London Trauma Conference) Episode 263 — Hyperbaric Medicine with Jeff Kerrie (London Trauma Conference) Episode 277 — Cognitive HALOs and Advanced Simulation Training with Halden Hutchinson-Bazely (BASICs) Episode 273 — Abdominal Aortic Junctional Tourniquet with Ed Barnard Episode 276 — Ejection Seats and the Injured Pilot with Phil Lucas (BASICs) All full episodes are available in the podcast feed. About MedPod Learn MedPod Learn is a medical podcast player designed to help turn listening into structured learning, with tools to support reflection, CPD, and appraisal. Available on the App Store and Google Play.

The discussion highlights the surprising speed at which clinical skills can fade, emphasizing the need for regular training over mere teaching. It dives into the power of video debriefing for effective feedback in a supportive culture. There's a focus on how artificial intelligence impacts clinicians' learning and decision-making, stressing the importance of critical thinking. Community engagement and in-person conferences are celebrated for their role in enhancing medical education and fostering connections among professionals.

Winter pressure doesn’t just affect patient flow. It affects people. This second episode in the Best Bits of 2025 series focuses on the human side of emergency medicine: culture, moral injury, compassion, and the small but meaningful behaviours that help clinicians stay grounded when work is relentless. The clips in this episode are drawn from full St Emlyn’s podcast episodes released during 2025 and reflect some of the most thoughtful conversations of the year. In this episode, we explore: What a genuine learning culture looks like on shift — and why it matters more than workload Moral injury in emergency and prehospital care, and how it differs from day-to-day moral distress Compassionate resuscitation and “the pause” after a death Why small, practical actions can counter hopelessness, even when systems are broken The EPICC framework and the role of self-compassion in clinical practice This episode is designed for listening on shift, on the way home, or during a quieter moment over Christmas and New Year. Featured episodes Clips in this episode are taken from the following full St Emlyn’s episodes: Episode 256 — Monthly Update (November 2024): Learning culture in emergency medicine Episode 261 — Moral Injury with Caroline Leech (recorded at Tactical Trauma 24) Episode 258 — Compassionate Resuscitation with Matt Hooper (London Trauma Conference) Episode 264 — High Performance Teams with Dan Dworkis (Tactical Trauma 24) Episode 271 — Monthly Update (April and May 2025): EPICC and self-compassion All full episodes are available in the podcast feed. About MedPod Learn MedPod Learn is a medical podcast player designed to help turn listening into structured learning, with optional reflection and tools to support CPD and appraisal. Available on the App Store and Google Play.

Sean Brayford-Harris, a pre-hospital and tactical trauma clinician, shares his expertise on decision-making during high-pressure situations. He discusses the innovative Ten Second Triage tool, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing walking patients and recognizing severe bleeding. Sean advocates for a more responsive approach in triage and explores the critical timing of thoracotomies and defibrillation techniques. His insights aim to enhance emergency medical practices, particularly when time is of the essence.

Join Iain Beardsell and Hutch as they review key insights from the Trauma 2030 conference hosted by the Institute of Pre-Hospital Care, part of London's Air Ambulance. The discussion highlights the emphasis on speed in damage control resuscitation, the ongoing debate on 'scoop and run' versus 'stay and play' approaches, and the nuanced use of resuscitative thoracotomy. The episode delves into advanced therapies like ECMO, their expanding role in trauma care, and the importance of relentless self-evaluation in medical practice. Discover how London's focused approach can provide broader lessons for trauma care and the potential for innovative treatments to become more widespread. Look out for more podcasts from Trauma 2030 over the coming weeks, where we will talk about team leadership in pre-hospital teams, more on damage-control pre-hospital care, nuancing the management of traumatic cardiac arrest, the increasing use of ECMO, and the shocked trauma patient. The Institute of Pre-Hospital Care The Institute of Pre-Hospital Care is part of London’s Air Ambulance Charity, focused on advancing pre-hospital care. They train clinicians, use case studies to guide our priorities, develop new clinical interventions and conduct research. They are also proud to educate and inspire the next generation of pre-hospital care experts through our two degree programmes, co-convened with Queen Mary University London (QMUL). Through the training and education of The Institute of Pre-Hospital Care, they ensure their unique team of doctors and paramedics are there for London, today, tomorrow, always. Listen on MedPod Learn MedPod Learn is a new app that turns medical podcasts into structured learning. Alongside the audio, you get concise learning points, exam-style MCQs, and short reflection prompts — with listening time and activity logged automatically for CPD and appraisal. If you already learn through podcasts, this is a way to make that learning count. Available now on iOS and Android.

Haldon "Hutch" Hutchinson-Bazely, an intensive care and pre-hospital medicine doctor, discusses his transformative experiences in emergency situations. He shares gripping insights from a harrowing traumatic cardiac arrest encounter, where he faced cognitive overload alone. Hutch presents techniques like 'lighting a flare' to manage stress and decision-making. The conversation dives into the importance of high-fidelity simulation training in preparing clinicians for high-stakes scenarios, and small-scale methods to make such training accessible globally.

In this St Emlyn’s podcast, Ian Beardsell and Simon Carley speak with RAF GP Phil Lucas from the Royal Air Force Centre of Aerospace Medicine at the BASICS conference in Leicestershire. They explore what really happens when a pilot pulls the ejection handle, and what this means for pre-hospital and Emergency Department teams who may be the first to see an ejectee. Phil explains: • Why the aviation environment is so hostile to humans and how aerospace medicine supports aircrew • How modern ejection seats work – from canopy jettison and rocket firing to parachute deployment and landing • The decision making required to eject in a matter of seconds, and how pilots are trained to be “mentally ready” • Typical injury patterns after ejection, how technology has reduced spinal compression injuries, and where the remaining risks lie • Practical considerations for ED and pre-hospital teams when a pilot presents after ejection, including spinal precautions and safe removal of flight equipment • The psychological impact of surviving a crash or ejection, how support needs can change over months, and what helps people return to flying • Aviation medicine as a career path, including the role of the RAF Centre of Aerospace Medicine, the diploma in aviation medicine, and how this can sit alongside general practice or emergency care This conversation draws strong parallels between aviation and emergency medicine: human factors, training under pressure, using simulation and mental rehearsal, and the importance of honest, individualised psychological support after critical incidents.

This discussion dives into fascinating advancements in resuscitation science. The hosts explore arterial line placements during cardiac arrest and the PECAN trauma rule for kids. They tackle the complexities of treating hydrofluoric acid burns and the innovative use of intra-arrest stellate ganglion blocks. Moral injury among emergency responders is candidly examined, while future predictions for emergency medicine spark intriguing debate. Plus, insights from the recent Geckos Global Health and Emergency Care Research Summit add a global perspective to the conversation.

Episode summary Why in‑person conferences still matter in a post‑COVID world. What formats work now: short talks, interviews, demos, strong hosting. How to turn “a great day out” into Monday‑morning change. Guests David Carr — EM physician (Toronto). Leads the Annual Update in EM at Whistler. Focus: inclusive, high‑energy, “hard‑core EM” content. Haney Mallemat — EM & Critical Care (South Jersey/Philadelphia). Founder of ResusX; designs short, high‑engagement sessions that feel like live conversations. Key themes Why travel when content is online? Being in the room changes attention, reflection, and recall. Learning happens in corridors, evening sessions, and next‑day conversations. From lectures to experiences. Shift to shorter talks, couch discussions, live demos, and deliberate hosting. Format follows audience and venue. Programme design starts with the audience. Build for how people learn now. Coach faculty. Pick speakers for delivery and credibility. Strong hosting is part of pedagogy. Good chairs manage flow, time, and psychological safety so the audience can relax and learn. Social learning drives change. Purposeful social time and small‑group evening sessions create the “stickiness” that leads to projects and practice updates. Practical takeaways for clinicians Arrive with intent: bring 1–2 real patient problems to solve. Choose your format: prioritise short talks, interviews, and hands‑on if your attention is fragmented. Make it stick on Monday: debrief with a colleague, write one practice change, set a review date. Present a short “what I learned” to your team. Borrow authority wisely: take clear, referenced points (e.g., contrast allergy/nephropathy policies) back to local committees. Practical takeaways for organisers Audience first: define who you serve; let that drive length, tone, and format. Shorten and vary: fewer bullet‑heavy lectures; more interviews, panels, and no‑slide formats when it helps educators shine. Coach and curate: select speakers for content and delivery; build a pipeline for new voices. Invest in hosting: treat chairs as educators; they safeguard pacing, transitions, and safety. Design the socials: plan purposeful evening micro‑teaching and cross‑disciplinary meet‑ups. Measure impact: mandate feedback tied to CPD; analyse themes and close the loop next year. Risks and tensions Edutainment vs evidence: keep the energy without losing rigour. Access and equity: budgets, visas, disability, and caring responsibilities exclude many; amplify content post‑event. “Too innovative?” Novel formats can struggle with recognition and funding; meet audiences halfway and iterate. How conferences translate to patient care Prioritise topics that solve common bottlenecks. Put change agents on stage with take‑home resources (e.g., clear radiology guidance on contrast “allergy” and nephropathy). Encourage attendees to form local groups to implement one change within two weeks.