Why Two Paramedics Watched Their Trainer Nearly Kill a Patient (And Said Nothing): How Lessons From The Aviation Industry Could Have Prevented It

2025-05-31

A field trainer administers a non-indicated medication while two trainees watch in silence. Sound familiar? In this eye-opening episode, we dive deep into how the aviation industry transformed from a punitive, hierarchical culture to one where crews actively prevent catastrophic errors—and how YOU can apply these same principles on your next EMS shift. Our guest, Glen, a commercial airline pilot and aviation safety expert, shares how the aviation industry has revolutionized itself through such methodologies as just culture, crew resource management, a...

A field trainer administers a non-indicated medication while two trainees watch in silence. Sound familiar?

In this eye-opening episode, we dive deep into how the aviation industry transformed from a punitive, hierarchical culture to one where crews actively prevent catastrophic errors—and how YOU can apply these same principles on your next EMS shift.

Our guest, Glen, a commercial airline pilot and aviation safety expert, shares how the aviation industry has revolutionized itself through such methodologies as just culture, crew resource management, and error prevention tools like the inquiry, advocacy, assertiveness model. We explore how these principles can be effectively applied in our EMS world to improve safety and performance. By the end of this episode, you'll walk away with practical tactics to implement on your next shift, ensuring you and your crew can handle high-stress situations with confidence and competence.

Key Concepts Covered:

Crew Resource Management (CRM)
Just Culture principles
Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP)
Power distance in medical teams
Human factors in emergency medicine
Error prevention strategies

Books Mentioned by Glen:

Just Culture by Sidney Dekker - https://amzn.to/3Su0A9Y
The Myth of Multitasking: How "doing it all" gets nothing done - https://amzn.to/4dAFa4E
Crew Resource Management Practice and Principles- https://amzn.to/3ZIjXzZ
Threat & Error Management resources - https://skybrary.aero/articles/threat-and-error-management-tem

Other Resources:

The Resus Tailor - https://www.theresustailor.com/
This Episodes Blog Post- https://emspodcast.com/what-airplane-crashes-teach-us-about-saving-lives-in-ems-lessons-in-crew-resource-management-and-just-culture-from-the-aviation-industry/

Gear We Like:

Good Stethoscope - https://amzn.to/3YJJrf2
Good Shears - https://amzn.to/40FROuF or https://amzn.to/3ChZ4Tn
Notepad for taking notes on calls - https://amzn.to/3Z1X21J
Sunglasses - https://frontline-optics.com/discount/EMSCAST15

Other books we recommend:

The Dichotomy of Leadership - https://amzn.to/4fiCAjN
Extreme Ownership - https://amzn.to/3O1FWfa
Managing the Unexpected: Sustained Performance in a Complex World - https://amzn.to/3V7BwYf
Thinking Fast and Slow - https://amzn.to/4fiJG85
A Thousand Naked Strangers: A Paramedic's Wild Ride to the Edge and Back - https://amzn.to/3YJJrf2

Guest/Cast/Crew information-
Guest- Glen
Host- Ross Orpet, Will Berry

Catch up with us after the show