Increasing public respect: an idea

Kookaburra

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Maybe if the nifty t-shirts, decals, bumper stickers, and baseball caps with which EMS workers decorate themselves and their vehicles were spelled correctly the public would have a more positive image of the profession. Just sayin'.


(Seriously, I've been looking around at various emergency services duds on teh intarwebs, and I'm appalled. And I've had to restrain myself from taking a red Sharpie to some of my classmates' clothing. Ack!)
 

MSDeltaFlt

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Yeah, I feel your pain.
 
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Kookaburra

Kookaburra

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I could also do without so many cheesy airbrushed flame t-shirts with sarcastic sayings on them, but that's more of a YMMV thing.
 

VentMedic

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Maybe if the nifty t-shirts, decals, bumper stickers, and baseball caps


Next to FFs, which FFs are EMS in my area also, EMS has more of the above mentioned things than any profession I know. There are literally catalogs of these things. It has come to a point of embarrassment. The t-shirts that say "EMTs do it better" or "Paramedics do it better" have become such a joke that even a 90 y/o knows they are not referring to medical care.

At medical conferences with mixed audiences, you can pick out the EMT(P)s by their silly t-shirts while members of other professions are dressed in non-distracting casual or business casual. It becomes even more disturbing when an EMT(P) who is a speaker wears one of these silly t-shirts and then makes a joke about being sure everyone knew what he/she is by the t-shirt.
 

Ridryder911

EMS Guru
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It is one of those ludicrous things I could never stand. Attending an EMS conference with those in attendance wearing a uniform. It is not like that no one would not assume that anyone would not know they were in EMS if they were in attendance.

Ironically, I have attended numerous medical conventions and have yet found nurses or physician in scrubs/ lab coats attire to ensure everyone recognizes that they are part of the group.

Being proud is one thing, but being tacky is another. Lack of professionalism is just one of the many things we lack in.

R/r 911
 

medic417

The Truth Provider
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But EMS is their life. That is all they have so they want to look it all the time. And the T-shirts are cool especially the trust me I'm a professional and the I can get you out of your clothes faster than anyone else. :rolleyes:

I agree why can't people go in something besides uniform or the ignorant basics save Paramedics t-shirts. When I'm off duty you will have no idea I'm EMS. I wear normal clothes. Yes normal clothes do still exist. And if I attend a function I am in business or business casual depending.
 
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Kookaburra

Kookaburra

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Ha ha, I recently took the FireTeam test for another city's FD. I think I was the only one there that was wearing "business casual" (nice blue collared shirt and khaki pants) and not a FF/EMS t-shirt/jacket/baseball cap. But I was also the only female testing that day. Coincidence? I think not! ;)

I am going to be volunteering with my local FD (it's a rural, all-volunteer dept.) and I know I will wear <i>their</i> gear with pride when appropriate; but at least it's all spelled correctly, with no misplaced apostrophes. And no airbrushing!
 

karaya

EMS Paparazzi
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I attended four national EMS conferences last year, and quite frankly I do not recall that many people wandering around with the novelty type EMS t-shirts. I'm sure some were in attendance, but I don't think it was rampant as these posts would suggest.

As far as uniforms? Yes, those were numerous and I really didn't see anything wrong with the wearing of the colors, so to speak, at a conference. Actually, I thought this was a great way to meet and greet from provider to provider. On a couple of occasions I would spot a group whereby I was an acquaintance with one of their peers, thus allowing me the opportunity to make an introduction and chat.

I'm sure with many of them it's a sense of pride; and there is nothing wrong in my book with having pride for the provider you work for.
 

Airwaygoddess

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One would think.......

There is a strong difference being tactful and tactless.......... Also to be said there is a time and place for everything.............
 

VentMedic

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When I go to a conference, I also want to enjoy the time away from work. Even though the conference is medically related, it doesn't mean I have to view it as work. If I want to have a cocktail at lunch, I don't want to be wearing my flight suit or scrubs with a hospital logo. If I am one of the speakers, I would prefer to dress in a nondistracting way as not to take the attention from my lecture. Some tricked out uniforms can be just distracting. My favorite comment to some members in the fire departments is "What's the horse wearing in the parade?"
 

Aidey

Community Leader Emeritus
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It is one of those ludicrous things I could never stand. Attending an EMS conference with those in attendance wearing a uniform. It is not like that no one would not assume that anyone would not know they were in EMS if they were in attendance

When I was with a fire department we were flat out required to wear out class B uniforms to any multi-agency training session the department was sponsoring. The regional EMS conference, MCI drills, EMT classes, wildland fire classes etc. If we were at one of these events and didn't have our class Bs on and were seen by one of the officers we were asked to leave.
 
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VentMedic

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When I was with a fire department we were flat out required to wear out class B uniforms to any multi-agency training session the department was sponsoring. The regional EMS conference, MCI drills, EMT classes, wildland fire classes etc. If we were at one of these events and didn't have our class Bs on and were seen by one of the officers we were asked to leave.

I can see this being a requirement for formal classes sponsored by the FD but "party" conferences such as JEMS should not have these same requirements. If you have paid for the hotel room, the FD has no right to remove you from a public place and conference that is open to the masses. My company pays all my expenses but actually prefers we dress business casual instead of the flight suit unless we are representing the company at a booth or have the helicopter present.
 
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karaya

EMS Paparazzi
Premium Member
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If I am one of the speakers, I would prefer to dress in a nondistracting way as not to take the attention from my lecture. Some tricked out uniforms can be just distracting. My favorite comment to some members in the fire departments is "What's the horse wearing in the parade?"

I was a speaker at last year's the IAFC Fire-Rescue-Med conference, as I am again this year, and I don't believe I saw one speaker in uniform. Of course this is Vegas and just downstairs from the conference is the casino. I think like you, Vent, no one wants to be in uniform while bellying up to a craps table.
 

Airwaygoddess

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Oh NOOOOO!!!!! Not Vegas!! LOL :p
 

Aidey

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When they went to the regional FF's conference that was more than one day long they were required to wear their uniforms during the day/classes, but didn't have to when they weren't actually in class.
 

VentMedic

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I was a speaker at last year's the IAFC Fire-Rescue-Med conference, as I am again this year, and I don't believe I saw one speaker in uniform. Of course this is Vegas and just downstairs from the conference is the casino. I think like you, Vent, no one wants to be in uniform while bellying up to a craps table.

Yeah, you never know when a photographer, professional or not, might be around. :blush:

I remember from just one Clincon (Florida) conference a few years back the FD had at least 5 divorces initiated from it.
 

Airwaygoddess

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Yep!

Yeah, you never know when a photographer, professional or not, might be around. :blush:

I remember from just one Clincon (Florida) conference a few years back the FD had at least 5 divorces initiated from it.

OMG!!!!! As my dad used to say... "Well that will learn you!!" ** No photos please!!!!! LOL :p
 

enjoynz

Lady Enjoynz
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I only ever managed to go to one conference in the time I was on ambulance (They don't hold them anymore, which is a pity).
Not one person wore they're uniform, that I can remember.

None of the Ambulance services here (There are only 4 and 1 runs 80% of the country) have Tee-shirts at all.
When we do get together or train, (unless that officer is on duty) everyone wears casual clothing or formal depending on the occasion.
The only time we wear our uniforms, is when Management requests that we do so!

I have to say though, that it would be nice at a large conference, when you have so many different agencies,
to at least have a name tag of your service and region, as a talking point if nothing else.

Cheers Enjoynz
 
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