Why are the EMT uniforms in Los Angeles so old?

[PeterB]

This may not be a big deal for some, and maybe I am just weird about this, but I have been now to 6 different ambulance companies here in Los Angeles, and almost all of the EMT's I see walking around have frayed, faded uniforms. I mean the pockets are frayed, the dark blue pants are faded.
Except for one company, they seemed pretty sharp. But, what's up with that? Why are the uniforms like that? When you are hired, are you given a new uniform?
Maybe its because I haven't been hired yet so if and when I am hired I won't care at all about it.
But I have this thing about trying to look sharp, maybe because I am pretty ugly. And when I work as a personal trainer, I always have a nice new-ish shirt on and clean sweats and clean tennis shoes.
Anyhow, how does the system work? Can I pay for a new uniform? Is it worth it, or will I not care after a few weeks of working as an EMT?
It's OK if you say I am a freak, I can take it.

Peter

 

[Sapphyre]

Peter, I can't say for ALL of the companies, but, at mine, no, I'm not the first one to wear any of my shirts, or pants. They're provided by a uniform company, who also cleans them for us. You can spend the money for new pants, at my company at least, but, the shirts will still be provided to you.

 

[WuLabsWuTecH]

I can only speak for St Louis and Columbus areas, but most companies around here supply you with the shirt so it's used by the time you get it. They do generally try to keep them nice and replace ones that they've noticed are old--I've seen supervisors drive in a flycar to meet at a hospital to get a shirt out to a medic who's shirt they had noticed was fraying a bit too much.

For the most part though, most uniforms around here are pretty clean.

I've always worn my own pants just because mine are more comfortable and I wear them for other things other than working EMS so it was no extra cost for me. The shirts were never mine to keep, so I couldn't buy them. I'm now at a department that will let me buy a set or two of what I want (as long as it conforms to specs) and send the reciepts to them for reimbursement, so I might eventually get myself a nice pair of real EMS pants. I'd say that in the past, working for a private company, there was less pride in how I looked, but ona fire department, there is a lot more which is why I have gone shopping again even though I could have probably found things to work around the house (that and they're paying for it!)

 

[marineman]

wow, our company buys brand new uniforms for everyone yearly. If you have faded pants, faded patches on your shirt or just in general a uniform like you have described you are sent home for the shift. My first day the operations manager told me his #1 pet peeve is ratty uniforms, if it happens twice you will be filing for unemployment.