When a new expo rolls around I always start a list of people and things I want to see. Now only does this build my anticipation for the trip but it also helps to organize and prioritize my expo experience. If you haven’t done this in the past, you might want to use my simple five point checklist to make your EMS Expo experience more enjoyable.
Start with the three basic activities at the expo and you quickly discover the grade school definition of a noun. You remember so let’s all say it together -
“A noun is a person, place, or thing.”
We go to the expo to visit the nouns so let’s start the five steps there, with people, places and things we want to see and do. (check out part 2 of this article – prioritizing and scheduling your expo)
1 – People at the EMS Expo
By far for me the various expos I attend have become more about building my network of friends and colleagues. There are some people I only see once a year or two at these events. It provides a chance to meet up face to face, find out what they’ve been doing and tell them about EMS in my region.
In one of their recent EMS Bootcamps, Greg Friese and Jim Hoffman talked about networking and its importance in creating opportunities for an individual and EMS service. I couldn’t agree more. Not only do I bring back valuable ideas and lessons learned from these friends but I build on the relationships that provide me options whether I’m looking for a new job or trying to fill one.
2 – Events at the EMS Expo
Most attendees start going to the expo for the continuing education and other informative sessions and speakers. They later learn to look forward to playing with new toys and meeting new and old friends but that’s another topic.
These special events and speakers remain the backbone of any expo. If the speakers and session topics aren’t interesting or provide value to your service, company or career you will not attend. This is a great opportunity to expand your horizons, try on new ideas and see what is working (or not working) in research and in the field.
There are often ride along opportunities in local EMS services, trauma center and specialty hospital tours, and keynotes by entertaining and informative leaders in our field. Use this resource and select topics that stretch you!
3 – Things at the EMS Expo
Our bosses send us for the learning events, we love to meet up with friends, but for many of us it’s all about the toys. My wife still marvels at the way I drool over a new nebulizer device or backboard pad (check the links for recent Best of Show picks). Face it folks, we all love the way new technology is making our lives easier.
Five years ago, I and about 15 other attendees stood around booth in Philadelphia and watched a doc intubate himself using one of the first video laryngoscopes made for use in the field. All around were booths with high dollar displays, expensive swag give-aways, and nice looking assistants, but we were enthralled by a guy with a card table, a TV from his garage and a sign he got done at Kinkos. You won’t see that at home, folks.
These are the first three steps – check out EMS Expo planning steps four and five here)
But I Can’t Go to the EMS Expo!
Can’t make it this year? My friend, you are in luck! We are going to be video taping interviews, product reviews, and live podcast sessions all three days of the expo and posting them within a few hours right here at EMSExpoLive.com.
You can get live updates in a couple of ways.
Follow any of the EMS Expo Live crew on Twitter – we’ll all be updating our feeds throughout the day and letting our tweets know when our videos are posted. Just search for the hashtag #EMSExpo in twitter.
- Jamie Davis, the Podmedic – @podmedic
- Chris Montera – @geekymedic
- Greg Friese – @gfriese
- Ted Setla – @setla
Become a Fan of our Podcast Facebook pages – video updates will show up there, too.
Follow our podcast blogs for individual and group updates at least once a day!
Check out EMS Expo Live video pages here frequently for the most recent videos and to watch your favorites.
