Preferred type of shirt while working?

[spnjsquad]

I vastly prefer t-shirts and BDUs/dark dress slacks/whatever you want to call them. I've also used polos.

Honestly, I don't think wearing a nice button down with all the bells and whistles on it is all that its cracked up to be. Nurses and doctors wear glorified pajamas because healthcare is very messy work, and in EMS you're also outside a lot, which can lead to sweating, getting dirt on your uniform, etc. A tshirt/uniform pants combo shows professional uniformity between crews and practically, you can change out a duty tshirt easily. Looking the same, I would argue, is better than looking fancy.

People talk about lacking professionalism in EMS, but a nice shirt is not going to fix that. I would be beyond shocked if the public even processed the difference between a crew with white button downs, polos, or blue tshirts. It's more important that the crew looks uniform, and acts professionally.

That being said, if you're a volunteer (or god forbid a paid guy) who shows up in a wife beater and bunker pants, I hate you.

I agree. Even though I actually prefer the button down just because it looks a bit more presentable in my opinion, EMS is dirty work at times, and it really is easy to get a shirt dirty. T-shirts as well as polos are simple, clean cut, and easy to take off in the event of coming in contact with undesired substances. While I do love the button downs, t-shirts and polos just make more sense while considering what you have to be ready for during your shift.

 

[DesertMedic66]

Button up at all times except for ocotober when we can wear pink t-shirts with company logo on it to support breast cancer awareness month.

I'm not a fan of polos at all. The crews that I have seen with polos don't look professional at all. Looks like they just woke up after a night of partying and threw on a shirt.

 

[Tigger]

I agree. Even though I actually prefer the button down just because it looks a bit more presentable in my opinion, EMS is dirty work at times, and it really is easy to get a shirt dirty. T-shirts as well as polos are simple, clean cut, and easy to take off in the event of coming in contact with undesired substances. While I do love the button downs, t-shirts and polos just make more sense while considering what you have to be ready for during your shift.

I didn't realize it was that hard to take off a button down...

Yes we get dirty sometimes, that's not a reason to skimp on looking presentable and professional.

We wear uniform shirts with badges from 8-2200, and a t shirt after that or if it's really hot or we are hiking in to something. I try not to just wear a t shirt, we get issued Mountain Hardware softshells so if it's cold enough I'll just wear that over a t shirt. I don't mind the unifrm shirt, yes we look like cops but we are also immediately recognizable as the professional crew on scene. I wholeheartedly appreciate the work that our volunteer firefighters do before we arrive, but it's nice to be immediately noticeable to neighboring agencies, flight crews, or what have you. I don't yet know the names of several dozens of volunteers we run with, but at least they know who and my partner are when we show up.

I would love polos but I doubt that will happen anytime soon, seems like we do the same thing all the other paid places do around here.

 

[rescue1]

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Yes we get dirty sometimes, that's not a reason to skimp on looking presentable and professional.

I would argue a tshirt with a uniform looks presentable and professional. I mean, there are always people in EMS who looked disheveled, but that is not changed by what you wear, that's how you wear it.

 

[Angel]

"Being" professional and "looking" professional are not necessarily the same. And, while I understand that there are legitimate reasons that fire fighters wear T-shirts as a matter of course, I am not a fan of that look for EMS. When it comes right down to it, looking like medical professionals and not fire fighters (or rent-a-cops) will be just as important as improving our education standards if we want our profession to be accepted as such.

people respect fire fighters in bunker pants, class B's, whatever. I don't think they look any less professional or educated based on what their wearing. if were being honest here, people have more respect for FFs than they do for EMS (I don't like it, doesn't make it right but that's just how the general public views us)

by no means am i saying we should be or are immulating cops/FF's/security (even though ive been mistaken for a cop/security more times than not, even with a big EMT lettering on my back) but imo, our dress has little reflection on how we are respected or even our appearance of being professional. I believe the latter is how we carry ourselves, in public, and not looking sloppy with shirt tails out or covered in crumbs.

again, thats just my opinon, and what ive observed working with and around both (fire and (private) ems)

 

[Tigger]

I've been told several times by members of the community that they appreciate our appearance over that of the firefighters in t shirts and bunker pants. The paid fire department is now transitioning to polos.

 

[EMDispatch]

imo, our dress has little reflection on how we are respected or even our appearance of being professional. I believe the latter is how we carry ourselves, in public, and not looking sloppy with shirt tails out or covered in crumbs.)

I've been told several times by members of the community that they appreciate our appearance over that of the firefighters in t shirts and bunker pants. The paid fire department is now transitioning to polos.

Several years ago now while working in a casino as security/EMS I wore a full suit with earwigs and the whole 9 yards. We we're unarmed and barely allowed to touch a patron, but it didn't matter. We we're dressed professionally and we looked the part of bad *** security guard.
I've heard of many studies that indicate a professional dress code boosts moral and productivity. Around here, both in the field and comm center, we wear a mix of polos and T's. Personally I'd prefer a button up, it just looks more appropriate imo. Class B is kind of the accepted norm in the rest of the public safety world, and should be at least strongly considered by any agency.

 

[ExpatMedic0]

what about flight suits or jump suits?

 

[chaz90]

what about flight suits or jump suits?

As mentioned earlier, we wear flight suits at my (vast majority) ground service. I think they look great. They're distinctive, don't look anything like LE uniforms, don't have metal badges/flags galore, and are quite comfortable. I think they really help differentiate us from the various paid/volunteer BLS personnel and firefighters running around. They don't seem to show wrinkles very much either, plus the thicker weight ones hold up forever.

We also have Class A uniforms that go the normal "public safety" route. Black pants, long and short sleeve white button down shirt with metal badge, black tie, black jacket with metal badge, and a hat that looks like it belongs on a train conductor. Field crews really only wear those for the occasional award ceremony or function (or annual inventory), but they do look quite sharp.

 

[ExpatMedic0]

As mentioned earlier, we wear flight suits at my (vast majority) ground service. I think they look great. They're distinctive, don't look anything like LE uniforms, don't have metal badges/flags galore, and are quite comfortable. I think they really help differentiate us from the various paid/volunteer BLS personnel and firefighters running around. They don't seem to show wrinkles very much either, plus the thicker weight ones hold up forever.

We also have Class A uniforms that go the normal "public safety" route. Black pants, long and short sleeve white button down shirt with metal badge, black tie, black jacket with metal badge, and a hat that looks like it belongs on a train conductor. Field crews really only wear those for the occasional award ceremony or function (or annual inventory), but they do look quite sharp.

I could be happy with a flight suit or jump suit. There practical, and better looking than a polo in my opinion. Ground crews would not necessarily need nomex, which could save a lot of money also.

 

[CFal]

Ski patrol we can either wear our shell jackets, a softshell jacket, or a t-shirt. Typically wear a t-shirt in the spring.

Ambulance we get t-shirt and button down shirts, usually wear the t-shirt.

 

[Bullets]

I agree. Even though I actually prefer the button down just because it looks a bit more presentable in my opinion, EMS is dirty work at times, and it really is easy to get a shirt dirty. T-shirts as well as polos are simple, clean cut, and easy to take off in the event of coming in contact with undesired substances. While I do love the button downs, t-shirts and polos just make more sense while considering what you have to be ready for during your shift.

All of your point are great, and i agree that this field requires a shirt that can hold up under lots of stress, abrasions, stains, ect. Which is why i love the ripstop buttondown shirts we wear. Tshirts and polos are less durable than a cotton canvas and cant double as technical rescue PPE.

 

[UnkiEMT]

T-shirts as well as polos are simple, clean cut, and easy to take off in the event of coming in contact with undesired substances. While I do love the button downs, t-shirts and polos just make more sense while considering what you have to be ready for during your shift.

I actually disagree with your premise there, it may take me an extra 10 seconds to take off my button down shirt as opposed to a polo, but I don't have to take it off across my face. I'd much rather give the mess a little more time to soak through to my chest than risk brushing it across my mouth, especially since it's probably going to be at least a couple of minutes before I can take my shirt off no matter what.

 

[AtlasFlyer]

Yeah, our "street" shirts (class C uniforms) are knit polos and sweatshirts. They're fine, I don't mind wearing them, but they're NOT "easier" or "better" to take off when full of crap. I would MUCH rather have a full-zip sweatshirt (our issued sweatshirts have a 5" zipper at the neck, but are not full zip-front) and a button down shirt, as they don't have to go over my face & hair to take off. I suppose they can be "rolled" as they come off, but then would need to be "unrolled" to go into the washer.

I'm quite new, and the only time one of my shirts has come into contact with something REALLY nasty I was wearing my nonuniform-issue insulated zip-front sweatshirt (it was -20 and we were given permission to deviate from the uniform regulations "using good judgement" in order to stay warm). It was very nice to be able to unzip the sweatshirt, slip it off and toss it into the washer when we got back to station after that run. It didn't come near my face or hair.

 

[NomadicMedic]

Another reason to love the flight suit. If it gets covered with oook, just unzip it and put on a fresh one, after a shower.

 

[EpiEMS]

Another reason to love the flight suit. If it gets covered with oook, just unzip it and put on a fresh one, after a shower.

Are they Nomex suits, by the way?

 

[NomadicMedic]

Are they Nomex suits, by the way?

Yes.

 

[firecoins]

A clean shirt is my preferred shirt.

 

[Underoath87]

We have these white button downs that only fit properly if your waist measures the same as your shoulders. They're also uncomfortable, trap heat like crazy, and fade to gray if you don't have a PhD in doing laundry.
We are often confused for security guards by the general public.

We have a few types of blue Tshirts and polyester polos (awesome material) that we are only allowed to wear on Fridays for some reason. :angry:

 

[BillEMTP]

Anything but white. No matter how sharp you start out the shift, halfway through it you look like a rag bag.