To Wear A Vest Or Not

[emtshields]

Just wondering your guys views on Vests in the EMS/FIRE field.
I noticed when i was in TO at the hospital the all the EMS personal are wearing vest. After hear about that medic getting attacked in TO it hit close to home this was after we find out it was a lie he made it up. I ride out in Buffalo NY( the big DELTA) and vol in lewsiton NY and i know working in buffalo there is a need for the medics to wear vests. They now dont even where reflective stiping on there pants so they dont get shot at

WHAT THIS WORLD COMMING TO

[FireEMTGuy]

It all really depends on what shift, what city or area, and what part of that city or area your unit is covering. I may have one in the unit and put it on if we are going to a domestic, drunk, fight, bar, call on a weekend but generally I don't think I would consider it.

It is always good to have but a lot of the time unnecessary. If you are in a rural area without any major sources of trouble then obviously no. If you are always working nights in buffalo then I sure as hell would!

Stay safe! :)

[Fireknight]

Hey guys,

One problem with wearing a vest is that our uniforms already look like police, puting on a vest just adds to that vision, in Ottawa the city clothes issue is covered by one contract, bylaw paramedics,firefighters and police all look the same, even our arm flashs are pretty damn close. We (as firefighters) have been told to make sure that we are wearing at least our bunker coats or bunker pants at calls so that "bad" people can tell we are the "good" guys. It is not to nice to have a bottle or worse broke over your head when your down trying to help someone...:(

Best advice "look after number one first"

[bestcoast]

Similar problem here. Sometimes when a " customer" has overdosed and the narcan bring's them around, the first thing they see is dark Blue and he/she starts swinging!!

[JGallagher]

Is there Fire Departments where Fire Fighters do wear vest?

[emtshields]

ya Buffalo fire