EMT Badge? Yes or No.

Benjamin Henry

Forum Probie
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Do any of you wear those metal EMT badges often worn by LE? If not, why? I’ve heard the argument that is makes us look like LE already😂
 

DrParasite

The fire extinguisher is not just for show
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My former agency did. They were issued by the department, and part of the uniform. We had the option of purchasing cloth badges out of our own pocket and using them instead, which most of us did, because it was easier (and safer).

Purchasing your own badge is a def no no. using a generic EMT badge is just ugly. But if your agency uses badges as part of their standard uniform, than do what your boss tells you do to.

BTW, FDs have badges. private security companies have badges. the TSA has badges (and they don't really do anything other than annoy passengers and waste taxpayer dollars, and are definitely not law enforcement). the NYC Dept of Sanitation has badges (and dress uniforms, but that's a whole different topic).

So saying a badge makes you look more like law enforcement is a generalization that isn't always accurate, as many other industries have badges as well.
 

DrParasite

The fire extinguisher is not just for show
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DesertMedic66

Forum Troll
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In CA the majority of companies have the metal badges as part of their standard uniform.
 

ITBITB13

Forum Lieutenant
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Company provided badge - 👍
Patch badge - 👍
Generic EMT badge you buy at the uniform store - 👎👎👎

In California, if a company makes you purchase your own generic badge, then it’s probably a company you shouldn’t be working for anyways.
 

rescue1

Forum Asst. Chief
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We had a metal badge for our winter uniforms for a while. I'm lazy and so I hate them, because its one more thing to forget to clip on to your uniform. We switched to the stitched on badge style.
 

medichopeful

Flight RN/Paramedic
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We have cloth badges sewn onto our uniform. I’m not a huge fan of wearing a badge, but it’s tastefully done and we look nothing like the police so I have no problem with it.

Our honor guard wears metal badges.

I would never, ever buy my own badge.
 

CCCSD

Forum Deputy Chief
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What do exactly does an EMT badge do? What is the reasoning behind it?
 

DrParasite

The fire extinguisher is not just for show
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What do exactly does an EMT badge do? What is the reasoning behind it?
A very fair question. What is the purpose of FD badges? private security companies? the TSA? the NYC Dept of Sanitation has badges? Law enforcement?
 

CCCSD

Forum Deputy Chief
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LE badges denote the authority granted to the wearer by the people or state.
 

NomadicMedic

I know a guy who knows a guy.
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We have them, but I think they only look good when an officer is wearing a uniform and performing public facing duties.

Wearing one as a regular field provider is “meh”
 

KingCountyMedic

Forum Lieutenant
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We have them on our Class A and Class B uniforms as well as caduceus on our collars. Silver = newer medic, Gold= old medic.

Many of our folks wear the Smock or polo shirts or sweat shirts and those have no brass on them. Our Chiefs wear bugles on their collars as well as big shiny gold badges. Very important looking indeed!
 

MackTheKnife

BSN, RN-BC, EMT-P, TCRN, CEN
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A very fair question. What is the purpose of FD badges? private security companies? the TSA? the NYC Dept of Sanitation has badges? Law enforcement?
Fake coolness factor.
 

MackTheKnife

BSN, RN-BC, EMT-P, TCRN, CEN
644
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"Badges? We don't need no stinking badges!"
 

TransportJockey

Forum Chief
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We got issued metal badges a few months ago for the first time for a memorial service for one of our medics we lost to cancer. Out day to day uniforms are polos w/ embroidered patch and name on them. The only time we wear badges are when we are wearing the class-A uniforms for special occasions.
 

NomadicMedic

I know a guy who knows a guy.
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4486


This is what officers wear. I think this is the only time we should wear a badge.
 

Virgil

Forum Crew Member
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My former agency did. They were issued by the department, and part of the uniform. We had the option of purchasing cloth badges out of our own pocket and using them instead, which most of us did, because it was easier (and safer).

Purchasing your own badge is a def no no. using a generic EMT badge is just ugly. But if your agency uses badges as part of their standard uniform, than do what your boss tells you do to.

BTW, FDs have badges. private security companies have badges. the TSA has badges (and they don't really do anything other than annoy passengers and waste taxpayer dollars, and are definitely not law enforcement). the NYC Dept of Sanitation has badges (and dress uniforms, but that's a whole different topic).

So saying a badge makes you look more like law enforcement is a generalization that isn't always accurate, as many other industries have badges as well.

Please elaborate, I have to know the story about this
 
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