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

Why your next “general malaise” call could be a ticking time bomb

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 Kelly Grayson dig into one of the most missed, yet deadliest emergencies we face: sepsis.

You’ll hear when to treat aggressively with fluids, why timing matters for antibiotics and how any provider can sound the alarm with a sepsis alert. Plus, they dive into the controversy around fluid bolus protocols, which prehospital labs might be worth it and why a 30 mL/kg mindset isn’t always one-size-fits-all.

If you’ve ever walked into a call and thought “something’s off,” this episode will help you figure out what — and how to act before it’s too late.

Memorable quotes

  • “Most septic patientsdon’troll with a sign thatsays,‘I’m septic.’”
  • “The number of sepsis cases we see in EMS are more than stroke and heart attack combined.”
  • “They may have pulses everywhere — just none of them are good.”
Update your understanding of the role of antibiotics, fluid administration and coordination of clinical care

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Catch a new episode of the Inside EMS podcast every Friday on Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, Amazon Music, Stitcher, Spotify, and RSS Feed. Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. 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.

The Inside EMS podcast is a regular expert discussion of hot topics, clinical issues, operational and leadership lessons for EMTs, paramedics and chiefs