Class "A" Uniforms for EMS Agencies

[trauma74 111]

I have been a member of my VAC for about 12 years now. During this time there has been numerous times that we were called on to attend a wake, funeral or memorial service for fellow EMS workers from other agencies, for firefighters and police officers.

When we attended these services all of the police and fire agencies were in class A uniforms and my agency along with the other various volunteer and paid EMS agencies attended in their duty uniforms. Some of the duty uniforms looked like they had been worn for a long time and were in bad shape (faded, stained, old, wrinkled etc etc). I felt that many of these duty uniforms (including some from my own agency) looked very unprofessional and a suit should have been worn instead of the uniform.

Three years ago when I became Captain of my VAC I wanted to change how my members looked when they attended any type of services that required a uniform. I looked around and asked questions. I found out what most of us already know. There are PD class A uniforms and there are FD class A uniforms, but there is nothing specific to EMS. The only VACs that I saw with class A's were the VACs that were run by FDs. Around this time I attended wake & funeral services for the Chief of an EMS agency in a neighboring County. All of the members of this EMS agency were wearing class A uniforms for the wake & funeral services. The uniform they were wearing closely resembled the PD style class A uniform. I was very impressed at the way this uniform looked. It was very professional.

Shortly after the funeral services I read an article in an EMS magazine about a class A uniform that was designed by the head of some EMS organization in the mid-west. I then began to think hard for a design for my agency. I ended up with a uniform that combines the a PD style coat with an FD style hat and white FD style uniform shirt. I order one of these uniforms for our local uniform shop and I presented it to my other officers. It went over very well and I ordered these for the other 5 officers of my VAC.

The first event where these uniforms were worn was for the NYS EMS Memorial Ceremony held every year in Albany. We heard many positive comments about these uniforms. Since then we have worn these uniforms at other services as well as our annual awards dinner. I am big on looking professional while out in public and while among our fellow emergency services personnel.

I am just curious to know why more EMS agencies have not yet adopted a more professional uniform for their members. We know that EMS is often regarded as the "bastard child" of the public safety world. I think that we should take every possible step to look our best whenever possible.

I am looking for input on this topic. I want to know what everyone has to say. Thanks.

Edited January 14, 2007 by trauma74

[x635 4,066]

GREAT topic!

I think a Class A Uniform for EMS is a great and long overdue idea. I couldn't agree with your post more...EMS stands shoulder to shoulder with PD and Fire, so why shouldn't they look as profesisonal as they do?

Empress EMS had put together a Class A Uniform for a wake and funeral honor guard a couple of years back when one of their own tragically died.

x901 helped to put that together, and also had done a lot of research into EMS Class A Uniforms, so maybe he will be able to tell you more.

Also, I know Boston EMS has a Class A Uniform.

Edited January 14, 2007 by x635

[Guest]

Class A would be nice. But i view the issue as more of a recognition issue - basically that Fire, PD and EMS are the three emergency services. Right now people only see two,Fire and PD and that has to change. I think this would help us stand out. Regardless, i know my duty uniform is as professional as every PO or FF and i take great pride in that!

As to why class A EMS uniforms aren't more popular is probably due to the fact that while our job is still very dangerous our LODD rate is far less than that of FFs and POs and thus administrators see no need.

Edited January 14, 2007 by 66Alpha1

[nycemt728 49]

Wholeheartedly agree 100%!!! For all those reasons from recognition,equality and professionalism, Class As are the way to go, thank you 66 alpha1. My agency's dress uniform is long sleeves and tie, maybe gloves and a commando style sweater w/ epaulets for officers who have. W/e the final outcome, we always look ragtag and un-professional. I have asked the chief (who unfortunately has been in charge for a while) why we don't do more w/ all our uniforms. His basic answer w/ regards to the dress jackets was simply "its not us, we've never done it" When I asked him why this doesnt change, he responend that as a volly organization it would be wrong of us to ask our members to shell out for such expensive uniform pieces, despite that fact that we do attend funerals and parades etc... I might point out that this same reasonsing has applied to corps duty jackets as well, and has thusly perpetuated the rag tag look. Only recently thanks to a federal grant has there been a cache of turnout jackets available for the entire crew, but even then, they're optional. This goes strait back to recognition, esp for corps like mine where the relationship between municipal and the volunteers is not on strong ground! Municipal or volunteer, we have the same titles, we work the same job or work in the public service, if we want to be put in the same category, we need to at least look the part. That being said, (and I can't voice my supprot enough) anyone have any ideas on how to make this happen?? How can we make officers and fellow members see that this is the way to go???

Edited January 14, 2007 by nycemt728

[trauma74 111]

I am pleased to hear of of the comments, questions and concerns so far on this topic. Recognition,equality and professionalism are very important to me when it comes to my VAC. We have a decent relationship with our local FD & PD, but they still do not give us the recognition we deserve. Even when it comes to our duty uniforms I am anal about the way that members wear them. If I see someone with a duty uniform that is a mess I will instruct them fix it or get a replacement uniform. We have a decent uniform budget. I make sure to spend it all by the end of every year.

I have heard many negative comments from other VACs in reference to our class A and our duty uniforms. Up until 3 years ago, our duty uniform consisted of a white uniform shirt, navy blue EMS pants, black boots and a Blauer jacket. We did not even have a uniform policy. There was a few blurbs in our very outdated By-Laws about the uniform and that was it. There was mention of wearing the white shirt with plain black Dockers style pants if we needed to get "dressed up".

When I became Captain, I created a Uniform Policy. Our duty uniform now consists of a navy blue uniform shirt with an embroidered name strip sewn along the top of the right chest pocket. We did away with the white shirt because we all know that white gets dirty too quickly. Our uniform pants are still navy blue, but we now wear the same pants as the NYPD ESU, our shirts have silver "EMS" collar brass for all members except the Line Officers who get gold lieutenants or gold captains bars. The current line and civil officers have badges (smith & warren style S206) (gold or silver) issued to them. We are in the process of getting badges for the rest of our members. When we designed a badge for my VAC we wanted to have a badge that could not be mistaken with any badge worn by any local PDs or the surrounding Counties and NYC. It has a Star of Life in the center instead of a NYS Seal. I figured by having this style badge, it would reduce the chance for abuse or misuse of it. This badge was designed way before that EMT was arrested in NYC for carrying a NYPD Detective style badge as his EMT badge.

We also now issue duty style boots (magnum, thorogood or 5.11), belts and navy blue embroidered GAME 3 Season jackets to all members. Members can wear uniform sweaters, polo shirts or workshirts when on duty with the approval from a line officer.

A member of a VAC in one of the next towns over was overheard making comments about our new navy blue uniforms saying that we look like cops and that we are "wannabe" cops. I made the reasons clear on why we got away from the white shirts. Yes, we have navy uniforms, but most patients and their families would not mistake us for cops. Our uniforms look very professional now.

When our class A uniform was designed a few years ago, it was initially issued to the line and civil officers. We are now in the slow process of getting these uniforms for some of the other members. The officers now wear the class A uniform at our Annual Awards Dinner. Last year we recieved many compliments on how our uniforms looked.

Two years ago I attended the NYS EMS Memorial Services in Albany. With the exception of us and the FDNY EMS guys, no other VAC in attendance had on a Class A uniform. I saw some VACs wearing black jeans and royal blue polo shirts that were sloppy and all faded. Talk about unprofessional! They would have been better off wearing suits or pants with a blazer jacket.

Again, I heard comments about our class A's. We were told that we look to much like the FD guys. We use the PD style coat with the FD style hat. As I mentioned in my first post, there is not a specific EMS class A uniform, so it can be designed from FD, PD and Military dress uniforms.

nycemt728: I understand your frustrations with your Chief. If you come up with a design and you get other members who like it, maybe you guys can take a vote on this topic and see what the outcome is.

I know that money was mentioned in one of the replies. Yes, these uniforms are not cheap. I think the head to toe uniform is about $450. That is why I started off by getting these uniforms for the officers first. If a few are purchased every year, eventually all members will have them.

[Guest partyrock]

I really like the way the new uniforms sound, but your neighbors may have a point about looking like PD. Its a fine line between professional and PD. It may not be an issue in your area, but its a large part of why FDNY chose the massive EMT/Paramedic patch for the uniforms and passed on the badges.

[IzzyEng4 427]

I have always been a proponent for Class A uniforms for all emergency services as well as a Class B and working / station jersey.

[AFS1970 504]

I think that Class A's for EMS are a good idea. The best ones I have seen have been the ones that didn't look like PD or FD because of the color. I remember the old NYC EMS green class A's, it really set them apart. Of course NYC Sanitation wears a slightly different green for their Class A's. I have never seen Boston's but I know their duty uniforms are Brown & Tan and I can see that working for a unique Class A. I think that EMS lost a bit of uniform identity when they merged with FDNY and started wearing the blue uniforms.

As for some uniforms being either PD or FD, the main difference in Jackets is the breast pockets. I have a friend who is a past Chief at a VAC in Queens and his Class A looks exactly like a PD Class A. Same color, same badge shape, very similar colar brass. The patch is the only readily visible difference. When I was trying to find a variation on our FD's class A for our Fire Police unit, the main difference was the 8 pointed hat instead of the bell cap.

Since we are limited as to uniform componants, I'm sure that someone will wear a uniform that might be confused with another servivce or agency. I don't think anyone is really trying for this effect, I think it just happens.

[trauma74 111]

We have the same color uniform as our local PD & FD, but our style is unique and will not be confused with them. I put in a lot of time creating this uniform to make sure we stand out among everyone else.

I hope that class A uniforms really do catch on for more EMS agencies. I am just tired of seeing sloppy duty uniforms being worn at the many different services we have to attend. It is really a disgrace to see what some agencies wear. These are some of the same people who are curious why they do not get treated with the same level of respect and professionalism that the FDs & PDs get.

[Guest 40-32 Comms]

FWIW, some folks from NAEMT did try to come up with a standardized EMS Class "A". There was a write up in JEMS a while back:

http://www.jems.com/products/uniforms/articles/110518

And a few more pictures:

http://www.lighthouseuniform.com/firedepar...tions/naemt.htm

Edited January 16, 2007 by 40-32 Comms

[trauma74 111]

Thanks for that post. I knew I read about an EMS Class A in one of the many magazines that I get.

[AFS1970 504]

While I posted before that I think the best uniforms are the ones that have their own identity, I also am in favor of certain things to tie us all in. On the Lighthouse Uniform page they had a set of sleeve stripes for different ranks, that were different from the ones I have seen on most every police and fire uniform. Here is something where we could all get together on and have similar rank markings. Even if the actual titles aren't the same, where they fall in the structure is usually evident that way.