What would you do?

[TeayotaSoupra]

I just started driving the ambulance for a local EMS crew. No i'm not EMT... been close but backed out.

Anyways, the EMTs wear either the FD/EMS shirt (all in one kinda place) or another one which also works for another EMS crew just wears a gen. fire/rescue shirt and they all wear BDUs..
Well they told me to wear anything. Ok so here this EMT gets out of the truck and you can tell they are EMT. I get out wearing jeans and a hoodie or a black jacket which does have my FD name on it but you really can't see it. I have to assist the EMTs and just feel way out of place for some odd reason.

Do you think I should step it up and get a general fire/rescue shirt and some BDUs?
Actually, while typing this up I realised it would probably be better than getting blood on my street clothes...

I just don't want to seem like i'm trying to be EMS lol BUT I am a firefighter..
I'm confused :(

[ElectricHoser]

You should strive to look professional and part of your team. Your appearance should make it clear who you are, who you're with, and what you're there for.

Discuss with your supervisor to see how you can accomplish that while conforming to whatever policies are in place where you are working.

IMHO jeans are acceptable for volunteers, in recognition that they were interrupted from who-knows-what for the call. If you're staffing a station or bus or otherwise reporting for duty - something planned in advance - jeans are not appropriate. JMO.

[TeayotaSoupra]

You should strive to look professional and part of your team. Your appearance should make it clear who you are, who you're with, and what you're there for.

Discuss with your supervisor to see how you can accomplish that while conforming to whatever policies are in place where you are working.

IMHO jeans are acceptable for volunteers, in recognition that they were interrupted from who-knows-what for the call. If you're staffing a station or bus or otherwise reporting for duty - something planned in advance - jeans are not appropriate. JMO.

I agree with you. They are paying me and I know this is what i'll be doing today so I really should have something to look like I wasn't just pulled out of whatever I was doing for that day...

[TeayotaSoupra]

Ok now any good websites to get cheap/good BDUs and a general fire/rescue t-shirt?
We don't have any local stores that will have all this.

[IowaFFandEMT]

www.galls.com i think they have pants for like $40 or so. and they have some nice fire/rescue shirts that have reflective lettering on them.

[JonathanGennick]

There are some tangible benefits to dressing the part. In the chaos of, say, a traffic accident it can really help if your clothing marks you as an EMT. Otherwise, you look like some random bystander, and police who aren't familiar w/you might think you are, indeed, a bystander. Being in uniform also helps when you're in hospital with a patient, especially when you're in a hospital where you aren't known.

When I first began volunteering, it took awhile for the organization to get me some shirts (our shirts have logos on them, and the organization tends to order periodically). I had trouble a couple of times in hospitals, because hospital employees weren't sure whether I was really an EMT, or whether I was just some nutcase wandering the halls, looking for linens, asking for paperwork. :-).

So I absolutely believe you are doing the right thing in trying to dress the part. Does your volunteer organization not help you in doing that? My advice would be to ask about getting one of those FD/EMS shirts to wear when you're on call. That's basically what I finally did. I went in and asked about shirts, explaining that had been encountering some difficulties. Right away someone managed to scrounge up a couple of polo shirts for me with our EMS system's logos on them. Talk with whomever your working for about your concerns. See what they can do to help.

[TeayotaSoupra]

I work for this EMS service in WV. They just got back up onto their feet and are regrouping again so they really don't have much of anything for me. Not even a radio. I'm using someone elses radio from the FD that I volunteer for in KY. So i'm not going to push anything as far as shirts go with them untill I get a radio lol or at least a pager, then i'll know they are starting to do ok again.

I don't want anything saying EMT since i'm not an EMT. EMS should work since technicly.. i'm part of the EMS system. I have CPR! woohoo! lol

Just found out there is an army/navy store in the next biggest town lol I might venture out there and hope to get things a bit cheaper. After tax and shipping on stuff from galls it's a bit much for clothing that will probably get pretty ruined.
But untill friday I guess i'm running around in street clothing. I could put on the FD shirt from my FD in KY lol they said I could but i'd feel odd.

[ElectricHoser]

I could put on the FD shirt from my FD in KY lol they said I could but i'd feel odd.

Might be as bad or even worse than true street clothing. Then you look like a whacker that jumped someone else's call and won't leave now that the authorities have arrived. :eek: :cool:

I think in your situation, from what you've shared, I would try to be inconspicuous and incognito. Wear clothes that resemble the rest of your crew (color-wise) but without any markings. You won't stand out, won't be questioned, won't look out of place.....

[Fireboundangel]

I didn't think anything of the way I dressed for my EMS calls (Hey, I'm volunteer!) Untill I took a patient to our local burn unit. They are worried about cleanliness obviously, and though I always pride myself on being clean, and well kept, and usually wear my name tag, I got stopped three times by staff informing me not so nicely that family members need to stay outside. I took a good look at my uniform after that. I found some BDU at the local surplus store and had a couple of polo shirts made up with my unit number on them again locally so the cost was negligible.

My Advice: Think about getting one or two polo shirts or button shirts that say EMS unit (#) Driver and your name. That or get something from Dave Berrys (I am not an ambulance driver!) collection, and cut out the not.

[emtcsmith]

You can be really basic and just get a pair of dickies and a plain job shirt. Looking the part has some degree of importance to it, knowing the part (in the future) obviously is the most important thing.

[steanson]

what EMTCSMITH SAID.

Go to the surplus store...and get a pair of BDU's or Dickies. Then go to Target or the like and grab a couple short sleeve polo type shirts in the same color as your crew. One other thing: Think about station boots or black low quarters too.

www.thefirestore.com
www.galls.com

good luck!

OH, forgot to add...TRUSPEC BDU's run about 30 bucks for cotton poly ripstop or twill.

[BCLepore]

I agree with the poster who said you should PROUDLY represent the team for which you are playing. You are earning your reputation NOW. Be professional.

BTW, follow up and complete your EMT course. It makes you a stronger team member. It's a great class and you will learn a ton. Not to mention you will better be able to help your community.

Paul Lepore
Battalion Chief
www.aspiringfirefighters.com

[TeayotaSoupra]

Yea they are going to help me get all my training in. With the way EMT training is now I should do a reg. test at the end correct? So my EMT cert. would be good in both WV and KY?
I know with my firefighter cert. I have to do it in KY and WV. I'll be doing my KY basics this week and I think next month i'll be doing them in WV for this department. (they need good firefighters and somehow I agreed to helping)

I'm looking into a fire department in KY which pays and sends you into their schooling. Right now they make you get medic as well as everything else. So even if I do the EMT now i'll just have to redo it all if I get in there. I guess more training the better?


edit- I also picked up a plain "firefighter" t-shirt up at fire school this past weekend for $12.. Although if I would have walked a bit further they had a plain shirt that said EMS on it for $6 :( lol oh well. But yea BDUs there were $30 as well. I might try out the Galls womens BDUs they have for $19.99..unless someone already has and it's not even worth it?