Two-Day Tickets: $125  |  One-Day Tickets: $75

Every call tells a story — from the first chaotic moments on scene to the final outcome in the hospital. This year’s LifeFlight Eagle Critical-Care Conference takes you inside those stories with real-world case studies and the critical lessons they reveal. Join us Friday, January 16th for a full day of dynamic sessions, expert speakers, and valuable peer networking — all designed to give you practical knowledge you can apply immediately.

This year’s topics span the continuum of care — from OB emergencies to managing neonatal patients and unraveling the complexities of pediatric DKA, to demystifying intracranial hemorrhage with the latest scoring tools, strategies, and surgical innovations. You’ll explore hemorrhage control and blood product administration in trauma, and hear an honest, experience-driven discussion on protecting your own mental health in this demanding profession.

Want to dive deeper into mastering specialized skills? Register for one of two half-day pre-conference workshops on Thursday, January 15th to get hands-on with critical-care invasive procedures, or learn to master the ventilator.

Register now to secure your spot for one or both days, and connect with EMS and nursing professionals who share your passion for critical care. Whether you serve in the field, in the air, or in the hospital, this is your chance to learn from the cases that challenge us, change us, and make us better — while building relationships with peers who understand the work you do.

Option 1: Hands-On Skills for the Critical-Care Provider – Limited Availability!

Gain practical experience as you work through five hands-on skills stations:

• Advanced Airway Management using highly realistic mannikins
• Airway Management with Pig Tracheas/Lungs & Surgical Cricothyrotomy
• SALAD (Suction-Assisted Laryngoscopy and Airway Decontamination)
• Needle Decompression & Finger Thoracostomy
• Trauma Care: Bleeding Control, Pelvic Binder, and IO Access

Option 2: Master Ventilator Management Workshop – WAITLIST ONLY!
Whether you’re new to ventilator management or ready to solidify your skills, this pre-conference workshop will help you deliver safer, smarter care for your sickest patients — no matter what ventilator is in your hands. We’ll break down common respiratory challenges, compare modes like AC volume, AC pressure, and bilevel, and explore how to use ETCO₂ beyond basic monitoring — knowing when “normal” isn’t normal. You’ll also cover sedation, analgesia, and quick troubleshooting so you can make confident decisions in any transport or critical-care setting.

Main Conference Session Descriptions

Burned Up – Jake Loving, BS, NRP, FP-C
This powerful case-based session walks through the clinical and emotional realities of caring for a severely burned patient, from first contact through transfer of care. Attendees will examine critical decision points, lessons learned under extreme conditions, and how communication, verification, and teamwork can impact outcomes. The session also addresses the often-overlooked mental toll of these calls, emphasizing the importance of seeking support and processing traumatic experiences to protect long-term well-being.

When the Elevator Key is NOT the Answer: High-Risk Obstetrics (HROB) – Teri Campbell, MSN, RN, CFRN, CEN, PHRN
High-risk obstetric emergencies don’t wait for an OB team—and this session prepares you for when you’re the one in the room or the ambulance. Attendees will review pregnancy physiology, recognize time-critical complications like pre-eclampsia, abruption, and preterm labor, and focus on practical stabilization and transport priorities for both mother and fetus. Fast-paced, approachable, and designed to replace panic with confident decision-making when the elevator key isn’t the answer.

First Responder Burnout: Understanding, Recognizing, and Addressing the Crisis – Rachel Murdock, MS, LPC, LCPC, LMHC
This session explores burnout in first responders—why it’s so common, how it shows up in day-to-day life, and what it does to the body, mind, and decision-making over time. Attendees will learn to recognize early warning signs, understand how ongoing stress impacts performance and well-being, and walk away with practical strategies and action steps to address burnout at both the personal and organizational level. Focused on real-world realities and sustainable change, not buzzwords.

Packed Cells, Platelets, and Plasma – Oh My! – Angie Geigerich, MSN, MBA, FNP-C, TCRN
This session delivers a practical, trauma-focused look at blood product resuscitation, helping clinicians understand when and how to use packed cells, plasma, platelets, and whole blood to achieve rapid hemorrhage control. Attendees will explore component therapy strategies, recognize common complications, and walk away with clear, actionable insights they can apply in both prehospital and hospital trauma care. Designed to strengthen confidence and decision-making when massive bleeding leaves no margin for error.

ICH Demystified: Scoring, Strategies, and Surgical Innovation – Tom Modin, RN, BSN
This session breaks down intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) into clear, practical concepts, covering scoring tools, decision-making strategies, and how they guide real-time care. Attendees will explore how ICH management has evolved, review current treatment options and emerging research, and walk through case studies highlighting advanced surgical navigation techniques and their impact on patient outcomes. Designed to sharpen clinical judgment and confidence when minutes matter.

Acute Management of DKA in Children: Don’t Bolus Anything! – Dr. Jennifer Flint, MD
This session walks through the high-risk physiology of pediatric DKA and why aggressive correction can do more harm than good. Using real-world cases, attendees will learn how fluid resuscitation, insulin, electrolytes, and airway decisions directly impact cerebral edema, arrhythmias, and outcomes — and why going slow can save a child’s life. Practical takeaways focus on what not to bolus, how to recognize danger early, and how to safely manage these critically ill patients from first contact through transport.

Trauma and the Brain: A Physiological Perspective Measurable Outcome – David Strother, LCSW, LSCSW
This session explores how trauma is processed in the brain, connecting physiological responses with psychological experience to create a more complete understanding of stress and trauma. Attendees will learn how key brain structures drive survival responses, behavior, and recovery—and why trauma isn’t “all in your head,” but rooted in measurable neurobiology. Practical, plain-spoken, and highly relevant for those caring for patients and for themselves.

Who Should Attend?

Open to open to all EMS and nursing professionals, the conference is especially designed for paramedics and nurses in rural communities, who often care for critically ill patients during extended transports or in resource-limited hospital settings.

Continuing Education Credits

3 hours of Missouri EMS CE and Nursing CE available for pre-conference attendees
8 hours of Missouri EMS CE and Nursing CE available for main conference attendees

When?
Thursday afternoon, Jan. 15 – Pre-Conference

Sessions 13:00 to 16:00

Friday, Jan. 16 – Main Conference

07:30 – Registration & Breakfast
Lunch Provided
Wrap-up approximately 16:45

Where?
Central Jackson County Fire Protection District Training Center
4715 US Highway 40, Blue Springs, MO 64015

Questions?
email [email protected]

Thank You to our Conference Sponsors: