Is a T-shirt a PROFESSIONAL EMS Uniform ?

As I said in a previous thread, we are a very function over form agency. I can't imagine doing a full code wearing all that pretty dress uniform stuff.

We are an emergency service. We have to wear the gear that best suits our work. For us (my agency) it's a pair of BDU's, a polo, and a pullover/jacket for cold weather with our name on it. I don't see what's wrong with that. People still recognize us as professionals.

Medical professionals or not, we still work in all sorts of inclement weather and adverse conditions. I'd rather not sweat through three layers of dress clothing just because someone wants to be pretentious and mandate an unnecessary uniform that is likely to get vomit, bile, urine, blood, and any other number of disgusting fluids all over it anyway.

Oh, and I should also add that I've found that overly-done uniforms tend to scare people even more than they already are. You show up in a fleece with your logo and a friendly face, people feel much more comfortable with you. A lot easier to make a report with them and calm them down. But maybe that's just me.
 
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crotchitymedic1986 said:
I have the same gripe about "scrubs" in the hospital setting, you cant tell who is a nurse, a doctor, or a housekeeper.
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Many hospitals in my area have a color coding system. Light blue for docs, dark blue for nurses, marooon for techs, beige for therapists (respiratory and otherwise). I like it a lot. Seems to work well in the ER.

There's nothing wrong with scrubs when worn correctly. While I'm not a fan of people wearing skin-tight, faded Looney Toons scrubs with excessive jewelry and perfume and their butt-length hair down in an unruly mess, if worn in a professional manner they're completely acceptable and project a positive image.

Besides, there's no way I'm giving up my privilege to wear glorified pajamas to work.
 
As long as the tshirt isn't faded, the silk screening isn't cracked, and there aren't holes, bleach spots, stains, etc. I really don't have a problem with tshirts.

We have Class A, B, C, and D uniforms.

Class A's are our dress uniforms - coats, hats, ties, patten leather shoes, white shirt

Class B's are what we wear when we have to do PR details, go to City Council meetings, etc. when on duty. They consist of BDUs and a light blue button shirt

Class C's are our BDUs and polo shirts. They are pretty much our duty wear.

Class D's are considered what we wear for PT - tshirts and shorts/sweats.

At our officers discretion, we are allowed to wear tshirts with our BDUs. My officer actually lets us wear them most of the time, but does let us know when we have to have a collared shirt on. On weekends and holidays we get to wear shorts/sweats all day, but then have to put on our bunkers for every run.
 
Oh, and boots. I forgot about my boots. We don't keep them polished, but definitely clean and try to keep them unscuffed. Steel toe preferred.

Maybe it's a call volume thing. We get a minimum of 10 calls per twelve hour shift per truck (three at the main station, one at the sub station cross town), day or night, thanks to a very densely packed first-response area. We are sweating, getting dirty, and covered in fluids/grease/who knows what else. It's not practical or economical to have a fancy, crisp uniform.
 
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I appreciate the responses, but the question is: Is it a professional uniform. Lets say the local tv news crew is coming to your station to do a story about one of your calls. What are you going to wear on camera ? If a t-shirt is not professional enough for your tv appearance, why is it professional enough for most of your patients to see ?
 
crotchitymedic1986 said:
I appreciate the responses, but the question is: Is it a professional uniform. Lets say the local tv news crew is coming to your station to do a story about one of your calls. What are you going to wear on camera ? If a t-shirt is not professional enough for your tv appearance, why is it professional enough for most of your patients to see ?
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I would most likely be wearing my Class Bs, but it would ultimately be up to my officer. I just do what I am told.

Like I said before, as long as the tshirt isn't faded, torn, stained, etc I don't think there is anything wrong with t-shirts. They do need to fit properly and be tucked in, like any other shirt. Of course, I am a civilian at a fire department, and I don't see them getting rid of tshirts anytime soon.

And really, the agency you work for is going to choose what you wear, so you just have to do the best you can with what you are given. Regardless of what type of shirt you are wearing, you should do all you can to keep it looking as neat and clean as possible. You should also be able to recognize when it needs to be replaced and follow whatever steps your agency has outlined to do so.
 
crotchitymedic1986 said:
I appreciate the responses, but the question is: Is it a professional uniform. Lets say the local tv news crew is coming to your station to do a story about one of your calls. What are you going to wear on camera ? If a t-shirt is not professional enough for your tv appearance, why is it professional enough for most of your patients to see ?
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Professionalism is in your attitude and the job you do. If what you are wearing is clean and in good condition, it is appropriate. Slovenly isn't a particular type of apparel but the condition of it. My practice is rural, both my volly agency and the local Ambulance company wear T-shirts. But, if I get a call to an MVA when I'm in the garden, I may show up with dirt on my knees. Around here, the patients are just so happy that they have the care, they aren't picky about what you look like. Also, the sloppiest medic you've ever seen is going to be dressed nicer than 90% of my patients.
 
crotchitymedic1986 said:
I appreciate the responses, but the question is: Is it a professional uniform. Lets say the local tv news crew is coming to your station to do a story about one of your calls. What are you going to wear on camera ? If a t-shirt is not professional enough for your tv appearance, why is it professional enough for most of your patients to see ?
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Hawaiian shirt, Bermuda shorts and flip flops!
 
crotchitymedic1986 said:
I appreciate the responses, but the question is: Is it a professional uniform. Lets say the local tv news crew is coming to your station to do a story about one of your calls. What are you going to wear on camera ? If a t-shirt is not professional enough for your tv appearance, why is it professional enough for most of your patients to see ?
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Most of your patients wont care what you wear, as long as you don't show up naked.
 
I would disagree that professional is "attitude". I contend that professional is "actions that you take". For instance, you may have a professional attitude, but if you "fart" on your coworkers, you are not "acting" professional. Therefore, when you dress like a landscaper, you are not dressing professionally.
 
crotchitymedic1986 said:
I appreciate the responses, but the question is: Is it a professional uniform. Lets say the local tv news crew is coming to your station to do a story about one of your calls. What are you going to wear on camera ? If a t-shirt is not professional enough for your tv appearance, why is it professional enough for most of your patients to see ?
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We don't have any other uniform. That's it. We basically have hot weather gear (BDU shorts, polo, and boots), temperate weather gear (BDU pants and a polo) and cold weather gear (same as temperate, but with a pullover/jacket, stocking cap...)

Keep unnecessary costs low.
 
crotchitymedic1986 said:
I would disagree that professional is "attitude". I contend that professional is "actions that you take". For instance, you may have a professional attitude, but if you "fart" on your coworkers, you are not "acting" professional. Therefore, when you dress like a landscaper, you are not dressing professionally.
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I think it's disrespectful to those that DON'T do the uniform thing to say that they are dressing like landscapers.
 
crotchitymedic1986 said:
I would disagree that professional is "attitude". I contend that professional is "actions that you take". For instance, you may have a professional attitude, but if you "fart" on your coworkers, you are not "acting" professional. Therefore, when you dress like a landscaper, you are not dressing professionally.
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Well I'm sure that we all understand your personal stance on the topic. Though some of us disagree. And BTW, my landscaper wears a white collared shirt.
 
BossyCow said:
Well I'm sure that we all understand your personal stance on the topic. Though some of us disagree. And BTW, my landscaper wears a white collared shirt.
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Same, all the ones around here wear polos when it's cooler, and when it's warmer, they wear something similar to the PD class-b's.
 
PapaBear434 said:
I think it's disrespectful to those that DON'T do the uniform thing to say that they are dressing like landscapers.
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I think he was shooting for a controversial, insulting thread.

Let's let the troll be, shall we?
 
Not controversial at all. And everyone is welcome to their opinion, but this goes to the heart of a common gripe among EMS employees. We often gripe about not getting the respect or pay we deserve. I think how we present ourselves has alot to do with that. Wearing a t-shirt does not make YOU unprofessional, but I believe you do look more professional in an EMS shirt or a polo. The other problem with EMS/Fire t-shirts is that most are worn with no ID, so you cant tell medic from emt from FF from Lt from Captain, unless they turn around and you get to read whatever is on the back of the shirt.
 
crotchitymedic1986 said:
Not controversial at all. And everyone is welcome to their opinion, but this goes to the heart of a common gripe among EMS employees. We often gripe about not getting the respect or pay we deserve. I think how we present ourselves has alot to do with that. Wearing a t-shirt does not make YOU unprofessional, but I believe you do look more professional in an EMS shirt or a polo. The other problem with EMS/Fire t-shirts is that most are worn with no ID, so you cant tell medic from emt from FF from Lt from Captain, unless they turn around and you get to read whatever is on the back of the shirt.
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So does a Lt EMT give different care than a plain EMT? ROFL
 
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