Jumpsuits

[Prophet]

I am looking for recommendations for a jumpsuit. My dept covers the price up to a 100 bucks, the rest I have to come up with. The local shop has one that is quite expensive and a lot of the people I work with don't like it for quality and comfort reasons. It is some random brand. So anyway suggestions? 5.11 any good?

 

[dixie_flatline]

I am looking for recommendations for a jumpsuit. My dept covers the price up to a 100 bucks, the rest I have to come up with. The local shop has one that is quite expensive and a lot of the people I work with don't like it for quality and comfort reasons. It is some random brand. So anyway suggestions? 5.11 any good?

$100? Are there any requirements or standards you have to comply with?

If this is just a uniform or whatever, you could go with ****ies http://www.****ies.com/product/product_listing.jsp?FOLDER::folder_id=2534374302024399

If it is for working on the scene of extrications or something, I suppose it might have more stringent requirements (I wear turnout gear, so I can't comment).

I do like the quality of 5.11 gear. I would marry my ATAC Shield boots if I still lived in California where that kind of thing is legal

 

[usafmedic45]

Two questions and a corrolary:
1. Do you have to wear a jumpsuit? If not, then why would you want to look like an overzealous newbie?
2. Which jumpsuit does the company want you to have?

 

[Prophet]

As long as it is blue they are happy and they recommend one to us if we work 24s and graves due to ease of dawning and comfort. Pretty much everyone out here wears them so the only thing screaming noob is it won't be faded We only do simple extrication so no worries there

 

[usafmedic45]

As long as it is blue they are happy and they recommend one to us if we work 24s and graves due to ease of dawning and comfort

Personally, none of the jumpsuits I have seen (outside of the well made Nomex ones for flight crews, which are likely well outside of your price range) are particularly comfortable. And to be quite honest, I find that there's not a terribly great amount of difference between the time it takes to get a jumpsuit on the time it takes to pull a pullover sweater (think firefighter's work shirt) and a pair of pants on and the time it takes to don a jumpsuit. The thing that takes the most time is putting on boots.

Whenever I see non-flight crews wearing jumpsuits, the impression it leaves it that they are either newbies, whackers or some other form of person trying to grab a piece of the "cool" factor of wearing a flight suit.

BTW, it's donning not dawning. Just for future reference.

Pretty much everyone out here wears them so the only thing screaming noob is it won't be faded

It's funny because I've spent a fair amount of time around the Fresno area and have seen quite a few EMS providers out and about and never saw anyone with a jumpsuit on.

BTW, faded doesn't make you look like you're experienced. It makes you look like you're cheap or you're unprofessional.

We only do simple extrication so no worries there

If you're within a few feet of even a "simple extrication" beyond opening the door and getting the people out, you need to be in turnout gear not a jumpsuit.

 

[medicRob]

Oh lord, waits for brown... (We will never get him to shut up now)

 

[Forrest]

www.Gibson-Barnes.com has some nice ones. That's who makes ours.
Everyone at Northwest Rescue's issued one. They really do work great for night runs especially since we're full-time with paid-on-call auxiliary to man the second and third out squad. Reflective trim, scissor pockets, and all that good stuff. They're not anymore than $100 either.

 

[usafmedic45]

They really do work great for night runs especially since we're full-time with paid-on-call auxiliary to man the second and third out squad. Reflective trim

But not enough to meet current highway safety recommendations. You'd be much better off just getting a neon green reflective vest.

 

[Forrest]

Vest kept in my left leg pocket, and all squads have a vest in each door pouch.

 

[NomadicMedic]

A bunch of guys have jumpsuits where I work, and while I can appreciate the ease of hopping into it at O dark 30, I just can't get past the fact that it's... well ... a jumpsuit.

They just plain look goofy.

When I was told I can order one, I declined.

 

[mp5dude]

A bunch of guys have jumpsuits where I work, and while I can appreciate the ease of hopping into it at O dark 30, I just can't get past the fact that it's... well ... a jumpsuit.

They just plain look goofy.

When I was told I can order one, I declined.

I agree. I equate them [jumpsuits] with a clown suit. Unfortunately it is a requirement of my department that it is mandatory to wear one. A nice department/service shirt and a nice pair of ****ies or EMS pants looks more professional than the "clown suit".

 

[DrParasite]

Jumpsuits were originally used by volunteers (yes, I know a dirty word) who would drop what they were doing when a call came in, they would go pick up the ambulance, and the jump suit could cover whatever they were wearing and everyone would have a uniform look.

If your agency's uniform is a jumpsuit, then wear it, and wear it with pride (yes i still believe in being proud to be in EMS). it's the agency's uniform, and if they have the appropriate identification and useful pockets, go for it

I wouldn't go out and buy my own though. Let the agency issue it or buy it for you.

 

[Akulahawk]

I had a 2 piece uniform and a nearly-matching jumpsuit. When I worked 24's, I'd wear the regular (and better looking) 2 piece uniform. Sometime after dark, usually around the time I'd be getting ready to hit the bunk, I'd switch over to the jumpsuit. My boots were zip-up, so donning that uniform and putting the boots on and walking out to the unit would only take me about 1 minute, maybe a little less. Everything else I'd need on a call would already be set up in the unit.

All my uniforms were acquired through my employer, so they determined what I wore.

Oh, and yes, I have timed myself donning the 2 piece and jumpsuit. The jumpsuit was always faster to don and was more comfortable while wearing the sleepwear underneath. It also looked less "sharp" unless you'd had it tailored...

 

[usafmedic45]

Jumpsuits were originally used by volunteers (yes, I know a dirty word) who would drop what they were doing when a call came in, they would go pick up the ambulance, and the jump suit could cover whatever they were wearing and everyone would have a uniform look.

We never did that but then again we with wore turnouts or we had a call schedule for the volunteers and we kept a uniform t-shirt or polo shirt on with either tech pants or dark blue slacks.

Oh, and yes, I have timed myself donning the 2 piece and jumpsuit. The jumpsuit was always faster to don

Same here. I found there to be minimal difference in multiple trials. Then again I wasn't trying to button up a uniform shirt as we always had a pullover sweater, polo or t-shirt to wear at night. Most of the time is spent getting boots on (which I always did in the ambulance/engine/rescue truck on the way to the call to save time).

 

[NomadicMedic]

It's an issue... how to look professional when you've been woken out of a sound sleep.

My fire department has a strict rule. No bunker pants on medical calls. It's always a class B uniform, even at 2 in the morning. Pants, buttoned up shirt, maybe a quarter zip if it's a cold night. We have issued jumsiuts here, but I've NEVER seen one on a call. (I've worn it once when I was doing a project that would have gotten my uniform filthy...)

My 911 service allows a uniform T shirt and/or a quarter zip after 2000. Or you have the option of going with a jumpsuit, if you purchase it yourself. Some guys do, most don't.

My IFT job allows a quarter zip over a T shirt or Polo shirt after "normal bedtime hours", which many of the staff seem to think starts after lunch.

I try to wear a presentable, ironed uniform shirt as much as a I can. I'm proud to be a paramedic and I want to make sure that I look like a professional when I walk into someone's home and start providing medical care.

 

[Akulahawk]

We never did that but then again we with wore turnouts or we had a call schedule for the volunteers and we kept a uniform t-shirt or polo shirt on with either tech pants or dark blue slacks.



Same here. I found there to be minimal difference in multiple trials. Then again I wasn't trying to button up a uniform shirt as we always had a pullover sweater, polo or t-shirt to wear at night. Most of the time is spent getting boots on (which I always did in the ambulance/engine/rescue truck on the way to the call to save time).

Those places that authorized a pull-over or t-shirt instead of the "standard" uniform, I found the same thing as you. I generally preferred to NOT wear the jumpsuit when possible. However, when I was required to wear an approved uniform (two piece or jumpsuit), I would do the jumpsuit at night just because it was a LOT faster.

 

[Forrest]

Not quite a clown suit, rather a "blueberry suit". I will admit I feel rather ridiculous looking in one.

 

[canisdoo]

I would go to flightsuits.com. They cost around 150.00 for a base model. well worth it.

 

[rescue1]

I hate jumpsuits. One of my volly stations requires them, and while they look better then jeans and a hunting sweatshirt, they still look fairly ridiculous, especially in comparison to EMS pants and a polo.

 

[BedpanCommando]

Having worn both military flight suits and EMS jump suits I prefer a good pair of EMS pants, boots with zippers, and a company polo shirt. Looks good and doesn’t ride up.