Before the Sirens: Fire Chief Ryan McConaghie on EMS, Leadership, and Emergency Preparedness - Season 7 Episode 11

When you call 911, everything feels like it happens instantly—but what actually takes place in those first critical minutes before help arrives?

In this powerful episode of Holly’s Highlights, we sit down with Sandy City Fire Chief Ryan McConaghie, a 25+ year fire service veteran, paramedic, and leader who has responded to emergencies at every level—from firefighter and paramedic to battalion and deputy chief.

Together, we go behind the scenes of 911 emergency response, firefighting, and EMS systems in the United States to uncover what most people never see—but absolutely need to understand.

You’ll learn:

  • What actually happens the moment you call 911

  • How EMS and firefighters respond to over 40 million calls a year

  • What bystanders should do in the first 60 seconds of an emergency

  • The truth about CPR, survival rates, and response times

  • Common misconceptions about firehouses and EMS work

  • How first responders manage the emotional weight of life-and-death calls

  • Leadership lessons forged in high-pressure, real-world crisis situations

  • Simple ways everyday people can be more prepared and save lives

Chief McConaghie also shares powerful real-world insight from nearly three decades in service, including what it means to lead when every second counts—and how ordinary citizens can become critical links in the chain of survival.

This conversation is especially timely as we honor International Firefighters’ Day and National EMS Week, recognizing the men and women who run toward emergencies while others are running away.

Whether you're a parent, leader, student, or simply someone who wants to be more prepared, this episode will change the way you think about emergency response—and your role in it.

Because readiness doesn’t start when first responders arrive.
It starts with you.

Visit www.hollycurby.com for more information and to sign up for the monthly Holly's Happenings e-newsletter. Holly's Highlights podcast and the opinions and ideas shared within it are for entertainment purposes only. The advice should be confirmed with a qualified professional.

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