To Wear a Badge or Not

[sdmedic42]

Should a paramedic, emt, ect.. wear a badge on duty. Would it depend on the size of the city, crime, emt's being assaulted????

[croaker260]

A descision decided by each individual service and the duty uniform they wear.

Im my experiance (17 years and growing), I am unaware of any single incidence of an EMT being assualted soley because of his badge, in contrast to his being assaulted because of bad luck, or being stupid, or having an attitude.

[LasVegasEMS]

A descision decided by each individual service and the duty uniform they wear.

Im my experiance (17 years and growing), I am unaware of any single incidence of an EMT being assualted soley because of his badge, in contrast to his being assaulted because of bad luck, or being stupid, or having an attitude.

Agreed. Here, once you graduate from the EMS Academy, you recieve your badge at graduation, kind of like the FD. Then, once you clear to independent duty, you recieve a badge with your number on it. It is a sense of pride that shows everyone what you've accomplished. Ok, so that may be a little feel good reason but it's mostly true. EMS is an odd beast because it really is a couple professions in one, the two major being medical and puclic safety and historically public safety wear badges. They can work both for and against you, it gives you some authority to tell a bystandard to get out of the street and it instills some trust in the family members of your patient. Yes, sometimes psych/regular patients view you as the police and may or may not be willing to volunteer information but i've never had a problem with it.

[RicanMedic78]

I think shields are an important "overall" public safety tool for all the reasons u meantioned above. Howver, I should mention that there are factions, particularly police organizations that can come down on you for shields not issued. So in the end, it helps on the public service side of things as EMS is indeed a public service... but O2 helps a lot more ;)

Here in NYC, we had an issue last year I believe, with federal police arresting an off duty EMT for carrying his traditional shield in his suitcase while entering a federal building. It isnt worth it!!!

[Sam Adams]

Here in NYC, we had an issue last year I believe, with federal police arresting an off duty EMT for carrying his traditional shield in his suitcase while entering a federal building. It isnt worth it!!!

Are you kidding? Do they also arrest off-duty police officers as well? I could see if he was pawning himself off to be a police officer, but in a suit case? come on. I realize that this happened a year ago, and I'm now realizing my irrational irritation over this....

We wear badges (department issued) here in the city. My only concern/ complaint about them is that the public sees a badge and assume that person is a law enforcement official. Some may take advantage of that.

[RicanMedic78]

And here in NYC, most agencies, hospitals, FDNY EMS, dont issue shields. I don't exactly know why this is but none the less, that is how it is. So if you possess a shield in NYC, especially one with the NY state seal, it may cause problems. Though, NYPD will usually give courtesies to us provided we have our DOH certification and work IDs, however, where that ends is with other agencies within law enforcement, especially federal agencies. DOH has not published a final ruling on the issue and I havent heard anything about the case in court but I'd stay away from carrying and especially displaying any type of shield at a scene unless it is one that is issued by your employer!

Some employers allow you to wear shields that u purchase on your own, the problem is that our traditional NYC EMS shields are identical to NYPD shields with exception of the words " city of new york EMS" vs "city of new york police"

usually we have a dual centerseal, one with the state and another with the star of life. That is our traditional 911 EMS shield. It was taken away from us maybe a decade ago

[dr-exmedic]

Frankly, the badges only go well with the sort of poly-cotton police-looking uniforms that I loathe to begin with, which we've kind of been stuck with ever since newly-minted paramedics began salivating over the first episodes of Emergency. If Johnny and Roy had worn something more comfortable, I'm convinced that more of us would be doing so today--every place I've worked has not only replicated the styles but uses the same freaking colors!

Someone told me that in a similar vein, sales of the Ithaca 37 shotgun to PDs spiked when one of the cop shows used them (I think Adam-12).

And how is this thread 18 hours old without a single "We don't need no stinking badges!"? :)

[EMS914]

Personally, I do not like to wear badges. I don't really like to wear uniform shirts at all. I prefer polos and t-shirts. They might not look as good or as professional but atleast I am comfortable. Unfortunately, my boss disagrees...
I think badges are appropriate for formal Class A's. But I am glad we do not have to wear a badge on our day-to-day shift work.

As far as dealing with assaults etc...I think if someone sees you with a uniform on if in their mind they are going to assault you, it doesn't matter if you are a cop or a medic all they see is uniform.

[RicanMedic78]

I dont like uniform shields as much as I like the ESU style patch with our EMS # on it and the hospital we work for. It keeps us looking official while differenciating us from routine street cops... I hate the polo and blue colar shirts! BLAH! I wouldnt give up my dark blues for nothin!

although a lot of us are gettin issued PPE/fire trousers, even hospital EMS staff here in NYC. FDNY EMS have been wearing it for a while now.

[Asclepius]

One agency that I work for, and have for a long time, took our badges away because they were afraid gang members might mistake us for police officers. So, now we wear a uniform shirt with the holes for the badge, but no badge. It makes me feel unprofessional and out of uniform. While I still take great pride in my profession, it is more difficult to feel a sense of pride when you're not feeling as professional as you could.

[FireMedAS]

We went to a LODD funeral a couple of years ago. All the cops and firefighters were looking sharp in their Class A uniforms with black bands across their badges. The EMS people were wearing Class B uniforms with black bands across their... patches. It seemed odd to me, and I felt bad for them. In that setting, it seemed obvious to me that third-service EMS was not a co-equal branch of the safety forces. That's stupid. EMS should have badges, if for no other reason than for ceremonial purposes.

[DrParasite]

I think EMS badges are unnecessary on street wear. Then again, I also don't like wearing a shiny metal name tag, or EMT bars on my collar. you get a combative psych, or a bad MVA when you are in turnout gear and/or not upright, or any call where you end up getting down and dirty, and you can scratch up that badge and lose those metal bars. or even worse, have one of those backs fall of your name tag, and you can accidentally stab yourself.

now, for Class A dress uniforms, or for office personnel that spend most of their time at a desk, sure, look all shiny, pressed, and clean. Ditto for long sleeves, ties, and citation bars.

I have seen many departments (both EMS, fire and POLICE) who have gone from metal badges, nametags and bars to patch badges, embroidered name tags, and sewn on bars. cheaper, more durable, and safer for those in uniform. and for those formal occasions, a separate class A uniform can be worn.

[dr-exmedic]

Personally, I do not like to wear badges. I don't really like to wear uniform shirts at all. I prefer polos and t-shirts. They might not look as good or as professional but atleast I am comfortable.
I dare you to go down to your local ED, find a doc wearing scrubs or a polo, and tell him/her that such attire doesn't look "professional." :)

Then come see me in my epauletted poly/cotton uniform shirt, which isn't comfortable without a T-shirt underneath, and my matching navy pants, sweating putty balls because none of this getup breathes and it isn't air-conditioned in every house you go into. Then tell me how "professional" I look, and I'll just laugh.

It's not so much what you wear as how you wear it. I'll take someone who looks relaxed, doesn't smell like a locker room, and has an air of confidence, no matter what they're wearing.

[Fairyqueen]

I have never had a job that I didn't wear a uniform. From my first job at Jack in the Box, to the military, to now. I have never had a "comfortable" uniform. They all had something. I would rather look professional. I know a lot of people prefer the polos but they just look well... bad.

I have lost the back to my name tag before and got poked. I never whined about.

[LasVegasEMS]

I have seen many departments (both EMS, fire and POLICE) who have gone from metal badges, nametags and bars to patch badges, embroidered name tags, and sewn on bars. cheaper, more durable, and safer for those in uniform. and for those formal occasions, a separate class A uniform can be worn.

I forgot to mention that in my original response to this post, we have embroidered badges, name tags, patches and only our Class A and B uniforms require a metal badge and nametag, only Class A require ribbon racks.

[payrs_medic]

Here in South Africa we have this document that was put out called the Patients Right's Charter and one of the points are "to be treated by a known health care provider" so we are compelled to wear our name tags were it is visible at all times.
It does look professional but then you get members that forget their badges on and it goes to the laundry, now it has happened to my D.O. on several occasions and then the back ground washes off.
We have moved away from blue shirts to white and it does not remain so after a 12 hour shift. The reasoning for the white shirts is that must not be confused with the FD or Security Companies that wear blue as well, and the shirts have embroided the Provincial Dept of Health over the left hand pocket and we are not aloowed to hev the badge embroided on as we must give back all our uniform if we should leave the service.

[RicanMedic78]

I think EMS badges are unnecessary on street wear. Then again, I also don't like wearing a shiny metal name tag, or EMT bars on my collar. you get a combative psych, or a bad MVA when you are in turnout gear and/or not upright, or any call where you end up getting down and dirty, and you can scratch up that badge and lose those metal bars. or even worse, have one of those backs fall of your name tag, and you can accidentally stab yourself.

now, for Class A dress uniforms, or for office personnel that spend most of their time at a desk, sure, look all shiny, pressed, and clean. Ditto for long sleeves, ties, and citation bars.

I have seen many departments (both EMS, fire and POLICE) who have gone from metal badges, nametags and bars to patch badges, embroidered name tags, and sewn on bars. cheaper, more durable, and safer for those in uniform. and for those formal occasions, a separate class A uniform can be worn.

Guess u can say the same thing about cops... and they deal with far more perps than we do! At the end of the day, its not a make or break issue for me, but yes, it does look offical and professional to wear a shield if you are a public servant. An EMS worker, be in EMT or medic will command much more respect in a button down shirt and a shield than the lazy fat dude in a polo shirt half way stickin out his pants.

Now, I realize that I spun that one, but lets face it, once u are comfortable, u'll start to act that way too and revert back to looking sloppy! I see it all the time! Official looking uniforms promote official looking style and character. Sloppy looking uniforms promote the opposite!

[DrParasite]

An EMS worker, be in EMT or medic will command much more respect in a button down shirt and a shield than the lazy fat dude in a polo shirt half way stickin out his pants. you telling me you have never seen a lazy fat dude in a button down shirt, all wrinkled and halfway sticking out of his pants? it happens as much as a guy in a polo you describe

and since you work NYC, look at FDNY suppression personnel, those guys go on calls wearing shorts, t-shirts, polos, does that make them unprofessional?

or job shirts, commando sweaters, pullover/windbreakers? should they also be not permitted, because they aren't button down shirts?

or what the goon squad cops wear, of street clothes with their badges hanging from a chain drapped over their necks? I alsways did want to be a goon squad cop, they have the best uniforms

Now, I realize that I spun that one, but lets face it, once u are comfortable, u'll start to act that way too and revert back to looking sloppy! I see it all the time! Official looking uniforms promote official looking style and character. Sloppy looking uniforms promote the opposite!and I spun it right back in your face. and you can look just as official in a clean polo shirt as you can in a button down, provided you keep operating in a professional manner.

maybe you don't have the ability to act professional when you are wearing a proper uniform issued polo shirt, but most of us are able to maintain a certain level of professionalism, regardless of the type of uniform we are wearing.

[RicanMedic78]

and I spun it right back in your face. and you can look just as official in a clean polo shirt as you can in a button down, provided you keep operating in a professional manner.

maybe you don't have the ability to act professional when you are wearing a proper uniform issued polo shirt, but most of us are able to maintain a certain level of professionalism, regardless of the type of uniform we are wearing.


maybe you don't have the ability to act professional when you are wearing a proper uniform issued polo shirt, but most of us are able to maintain a certain level of professionalism, regardless of the type of uniform we are wearing.

ur obviously tryin to pick a fight wit me here... lol

Look, I just believe it promotes professionalism to maintain a sharp and official look verses "comfortable," and that goes for any kind of public safety/municiple job. Don't blow a titty because of that concept. Its not a dealbreaker man! And as for your "most of us" comment," its interesting how you can speak for everyone in EMS besides yourself!

Might as well make everyone in every field dress for comfort since drparasite knows that everyone will be professional because drparasite is always professional... lets place drparasite on the cover of JEMS so he can sport his super professional .... POLO!