Daniel Cotroneo, Author at DistanceCME

About Daniel Cotroneo

Dan is a retired fire captain from St. Paul, Minn., who lives in Fort Myers, Fla. He began his career in public service/emergency response in the early 1980s as a Navy Submarine Radioman/Damage Control crew member. He worked for the St. Paul Fire Department from 1992-2014, as a firefighter/EMT and as captain for 15 years. He also has worked at the local community colleges as a lead instructor and has worked for other companies as well as his own company as an OSHA safety consultant. He also owned his own insurance company that specialized in coverage for firefighter, law enforcement officers and EMS personnel. Since retirement, he has gone back to college to work on his theology degree and gone back to EMS training to give back to the men and women who he considers the backbone of our cities, our first responders.

From Impact to Impairment: A First Responder’s Look at Traumatic Brain Injury and Early-Onset Alzheimer’s

As an emergency medical responder, I’ve seen firsthand how one fall, crash, or strike to the head can change a life forever.

Career Development and Advancement for EMTs

Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and Emergency Room Technicians (ERTs) serve as crucial frontline responders in the healthcare system, delivering prehospital and in-hospital emergency care to patients. However, the career paths for both EMTs and ERTs can extend far beyond these initial roles, offering numerous opportunities for growth, specialization, and transition into other healthcare positions. The [...]

OSHA Requirements for Working in Emergency Flood Zones and Severe Weather Conditions

It is crucial to conduct a thorough hazard assessment to identify potential risks and provide comprehensive training on specific hazards and protective measures. Your department should have already identified all potential flood hazards in your response area. If this has not been done, it must be completed, and a detailed Emergency Action Pre-plan should be made a top priority.

Cardiocerebral Resuscitation (CCR) With Oxygen via Nasal Cannula

One of the many benefits working for DistanceCME as an instructor is getting to work with some of the greatest emergency responders in our nation who utilize our platform to stay current with their continuing education (CE). Though most students come to learn from us, we learn a lot more from them. For example, we gain [...]

EMS Providers: To mask or not to mask?

I understand that discussions about wearing masks for protection from COVID can evoke some strong emotions and differing opinions. However, I believe that using basic math we can come to the realization of what truly works and what does not work. Let’s first look at what is a virus and the sizes of viruses: A [...]

OSHA Requirement For Emergency Responders While Working On The Side Of The Road

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets forth regulations and standards to ensure workplace safety. As emergency responders we too must follow all these safety standards even though our jobs do contain some very high risks. This article is to help you and your agency provide an understandable outline to set up your own training [...]

Leadership Styles and YOU!

Emergency responders operate in high-pressure, dynamic environments where effective leadership is crucial for ensuring the safety of responders and the public. Various leadership styles can be effective in emergency response scenarios, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Here are some leadership styles commonly observed among emergency responders and when they should and should not [...]