048 - "All Jacked Up", Energy Drinks and First Responders with Brandon Heggie and Dr. Michelle Kent

First responders chronically use energy drinks to power through their shifts, but what are the consequences? Are there any benefits?

In this episode Brandon Heggie (@bdheggie3) and Dr. Michelle Kent (@dr_michellekent) will help you to understand the various chemicals associated with energy drinks, how the body reacts to those chemicals, the difference between safe and toxic levels of ingestion and how to treat energy drink toxicity. 

We will also discuss healthy options for emergency services personnel.

About our Guests:

Brandon Heggie is a Firefighter/Paramedic who has been working in Fire and EMS for over a decade. He has numerous experiences ranging from being a Tactical Medic on a SWAT Team, to a High Angle Rope Rescue Tech. Brandon provides in-depth knowledge in aggressive simplistic medical assessment and care. He is currently working as an Firefighter/Paramedic for a busy cross staffed department. He obtained an Associates Degree in Emergency Medicine and Health Services. Education is not supposed to be difficult. It should be simple, fascinating, remarkable but more importantly, retainable.  Brandon provides a high energy educational approach where the group has fun using stories, pictures plus interaction between students and instructor to maximize the learning experience.

@bdheggie3

Dr. Michelle Kent is passionate about working with first responders, veterans and shift workers regardless of their gender or background. Dr. Kent understands the particular health risks that these communities face and it is her mission to actively assist in identifying those risks to best prevent disease and resolve ongoing health concerns. Dr. Kent is a team player, and a goal-oriented physician who desires to optimize your health and wellness to promote happiness and longevity throughout life.

Dr. Kent is very active in the first responder community, and has particular knowledge on firefighters, paramedics and EMTs. On a regular basis Dr. Kent goes on ride-alongs with local fire departments to learn more about the specifics of the profession to provide the best care she can. Dr. Kent stays up to date on research about first responder health and attends conferences specific to this area.

@dr_michellekent

About our host: 

Chief Brian Soller has been a volunteer firefighter for 30 years.  Brian is currently Chief of the Rock Hill Fire Department (100% Volunteer / Sullivan County, NY) and a Past Chief of the Monticello Fire Department (Combination / Sullivan County, NY). Brian is a Nationally Certified Level II Fire Instructor as well a Nationally Certified Fire Officer. He has been instructing firefighters of all levels for the past 17 years.  Brian is also a long time NYS Emergency Medical Technician as well as an Advanced Swift Water Technician.  Brian's passion lies in the promotion of professionalism in the volunteer fire service. 

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