And I’ll endorse candidates if I want to.  I run hot and cold on NAEMT because I know it’s the only association we have that can even claim to represent “all” of EMS, but I also see it fail to live up to its potential regularly — especially in terms of legislative advocacy.

These issues didn’t arise overnight and they certainly won’t be fixed overnight either.  Honestly, I don’t know whether to try to fix things or throw up my hands.   Today, though, I’m hoping that NAEMT can continue to improve.

One way that NAEMT can improve is with strong leaders on the board of director.  It’s truly my privilege and honor to endorse a friend and colleague as he seeks a position as an At-Large Director on the NAEMT Board of Directors.  Troy Tuke is the Assistant Fire Chief for EMS with the Clark County (Nevada) Fire Department.  I’ve known Troy (oops, Chief Tuke) for over seven years now since riding with him (when he was an engineer/paramedic) on my first trip to EMS Expo in Las Vegas.   Chief Tuke is one of the progressive minds in fire-based EMS.  (Yes, they do exist!)  He’s also a registered nurse.  In the years that I’ve known him, I’ve always known his integrity to be beyond reproach and that he is a continual advocate for EMS’s advancement as a profession.

If he doesn’t have three strikes already between being endorsed by an attorney, being a RN, and being a fire chief (I’m kidding, y’all!), I would highly encourage any NAEMT member to vote for Troy Tuke as an at-large director.

Thanks — and the snarky posts will be back soon.

Recently, a lot of EMS people online have fallen for some of the joke postings on a public safety version of The Onion called Call the Cops. Many of those people have gotten offended.  Apparently, making fun of ourselves offends the humorless.  These are usually the same people who are called upon to give the ethics lecture to medic students and who administer any pediatrics skills exams.

To these humorless sorts, I offer the following advice.

I’m new to blogging, but not to my passions which include the active practice of both law and paramedicine, good BBQ, and the occasional foray into politics.   I look forward to developing some devoted minions, I mean, readers.   I tend to be highly opinionated, blunt, and irreverent, so if you’re easily offended, you might not like this blog.   And as always, my opinions are my own, and not of any of my employers (whether past or present) or any EMS agencies I’ve been affiliated with.

About me?  I’m a Texas attorney and paramedic approaching middle age.  I actively practice both of my licensed careers — working as one of the minions of state government (NOT in EMS regulation, y’all) and volunteering as a paramedic and EMS educator.

Since I am an attorney, I’ll leave you with a couple of disclaimers.  All rights reserved.  No attorney/client or paramedic/patient relationship is assumed.  Contents may settle during shipping.  Shipping and handling not included.  Press hard, three copies.