A situation's been brought up at my job and I wanted to get some feedback before I decide whether or not to force the issue.
There's a student in one of my classes who works in a neighboring ambulance core, and she comes to lecture and lab once in a while wearing her job shirt. I've always believed that if you're not on your way to/from work or working at the moment you shouldn't be in uniform. I've asked her if she's going to work after class or coming from work and she told me that she wears it because she feels like it and that it's the same shirt that she wears to work when she goes in. As soon as she said that I got upset, I mean we were in microbio lab and she had a petri dish with E.Coli in her hand! People spill stuff all the time, and a lot of people don't even wash their hands before leaving the lab!!
More so than that, if you don't have equipment, and don't plan on helping out if a situation arises, what's the point in wearing a job shirt? Am I wrong to think that people shouldn't wear their job shirts/uniform outside of work? I understand showing pride in your job, I have a dozen EMS shirts that I wear all the time, but I don't walk around in my uniform.
Wearing a job shirt when not working, good idea or bad? What do you guys think?
Neither Good nor bad, just a personal choice unless the department/company has a policy against it. I know at my departments, we have no policy against wearing uniforms off duty.
I think you should let her do what she chooses, I know EMS personnel who wear their shirt/jacket all the time and also those who never wear those items out of the workplace. It's a fight not worth fighting...choose your battles wisely.
I wear my FD Jacket during the winters a lot as it's just a really good jacket. It's part of the uniform, yes, but it's also a comfortable jacket that is well insulated and has enough room for my hat, gloves, etc.
The point of my post and the others in here saying that this is not a good idea was not that wearing work clothing to school is a bad idea, but that wearing your work uniform to school is. EMTs generally wear shirts that are emblazoned with the insignia of their service, which means that you are representing them wherever and whenever you wear the shirt. Scrubs for a CNA are different (typically, I don't know about your specific situation) in that they are generic. You can't be linked to your hospital or place of employment by your scrubs the way you can be with an EMS shirt.
What's the difference then between me wearing my uniform shirt outside of work, and me wearing a department T-Shirt outside of work? The T-Shirt is not enough to be considered a uniform, and we are not allowed to use it as a uniform while on duty (usually). So the only time I can wear the T-shirt is off duty! And what about t-Shirts that hospitals give prehospital providers that have EMS on them anywhere? Is your argument that they are for display at home on a wall only?
As for the 'emergency happening while wearing your uniform' situation, I really didn't articulate myself well. What I meant to say there is that as an EMT if you aren't currently clocked in you aren't typically protected by your service's insurance. Further, your ability to practice is derived from your medical director's license-which you are not covered under unless you are working. This means that you can really only respond to the level of a first responder-or whatever is covered by good samaritan laws in your state. This could cause problems if people in the crowd (or you yourself) expect you to perform some intervention that is above the level that you can do while not working. There's a reason services tell their people not to wear uniforms while not working. It can cause confusion in life threatening situations. And for what? So you can look cool in class?
You're right here! You are usually not protected when off duty by departmental liability insurance nor are you under a working medical license, so in most states, the most you can do under Good Samaritan is CPR/First Aid. There are some states that don't even let you do that because you are an EMT and in these states you are not covered under any Good Samaritan Laws. You are a Healthcare Professional, it is your job to not let your emotions get in your way and do something the crowd wants you to do (whatever that may be) Uniform, or not.
I would be lying if I said I would not use any of my skills outside of work ever (assuming the equipment magically appeared beside me on scene), but the situations I would be willing to do this in are few and far between. The only conceivable ones involve family and close friends in which case I'm not worried about being sued because they know I have their best interest at heart and trust me.
The actual issue here is that the person will have a duty to act if she is wearing clothing that identifies her as an EMT. If someone were to require medical assistance and she was around and wearing clothing that identified her as an EMT she would be required by law to help otherwise she can be sued for negligence/abandonment. So this is the risk she is taking when wearing her work shirt. The other issue is looking like a whacker. I am sure any EMT would help someone in need if they were off duty despite if they could be identified or not. I have friends who wear their work shirts all the time, I personally do not because I do not like looking like a whacker. I think style is main issue and no one looks attractive in a work shirt (that's just my opinion though)
NO NO NO NO NO!!!! I want to comment on this before someone google's this thread and possibly gets it wrong. Most states do not make a distinction on Duty to act based on what clothing you are wearing! Some states that have duty to act require their EMTs to help when feasible, but none that I know of state that you must only when wearing clothing that identifies you as such! You can't be sued for abandonment if you never established care of the patient!
There is no duty to act in my state (and no protection for those who do), but my department rules state that while in district we have a duty to act, but this holds true regardless of what we are wearing! Also, because of a formal department policy, this also means that if (or rather when) we do act, we are operating under our medical director's license and are covered under the departmental insurance.
An off duty can do anything they are trained to due and have it be covered under good samaritan laws. Just because you aren't clocked in doesn't mean you are limited in what they can do. As long as they are trained for it (don't go giving out emergency tracheotomies) and they had good reason to do it (don't do CPR for childbirth), they can do the same that they could on duty (just without the supplies). this all assumes the Pt wants your help.
As for not giving care while in uniform.... not sure what the rules are for this. I don't think any legal issues would come your way, but I can definitely see the ambulance company letting them go.
but the real issue is just if the ambulance company has it in their policies that they must change. this we do not know. Although the OP made it seem like her problem was infecting patients with bacteria from class
Nope! STILL NOT GETTING IT RIGHT! While this may be true in some states, it is not true in the majority of states! Most states do not extend the good Samaritan laws to cover your entire scope of practice! Some state make the Good Samaritan laws not apply to EMS personnel (as in you have no duty to act, but if you do, you're on your own). You cna't practice at the same level while not covered by your medical director's license! This is practicing medicine without a license!
-------------------
The Take home message I think is this:
Wear what you damn well want unless there are policies to the contrary. I'm wondering if the OP is getting his panties in a bunch because his department does not allow him to do it and he thinks the other departments should not allow their members to do it either. Yes, someone could do something stupid in uniform and generate bad publicity, but if the chief thinks they are all adults and the members have not proven otherwise, then there is no reason to stop them from wearing their uniforms off-duty.
I'm more concerned with the proliferation of bad advice on this thread as many of it goes against some state laws! Remember people, EMS is regulated by state by state statutes, there is no national law that covers all EMS regulations so before you say anything, do not make a blanket statement that covers all states!
