I was just wondering what peoples thoughts/department SOG's were on wearing bunker gear, ambulance crew/fire crew, on the scene of vehicle accidents. In my department's SOG's it states "Bunker gear is required for personal injury accidents", yet there are some who refuse to wear it when they respond on the squad(ambulance) because they have reflective vests or jackets. Me personally I wear my bunker gear and a refective vest no matter what truck I respond in.
DUST - just saw your reply. I see the humour, I suppose I'm a little toucher because I have seen some poor t-shirts worn by people at incidents - and seen people told to put their jackets back on because of it!
Generally, in our department, if you are doing STRICTLY EMS and you will be well away from the vehicles involved and the roadway, plain clothes and BSI precautions are allowable however if you are anywhere near the car, you must be in full turnouts. If you're directing traffic, vests and/or PPE. We have the tear-away vests for federal highways but we generally try to shut down roadways now, at least until we can manage the scene.
We had an extended extrication/recovery today after a driver tried to beat a train. Command counted out his team for extrication and sent everyone else home. We were all in full PPE plus many of us had BSI precautions as well.
A lot of gear went through the wash later back at the hall.
Full ppe is required for all calls and responses in my dept.The only exception is if the OIC tells you to doff your bunkers due to heat mainly.While working an MVA or any type of call on any road, highway, etc we are required to wear the 5 point breakaway vests.In my area fire and ems are seperate and both have different SOP's that are driven by insurance guidelines.As a firefighter i am only covered in FULL PPE aka my bunkers however the ems is covered while only wearing their jumpsuits.While at an MVA a stray car may strike an EMT (in jumpsuit) and firefighter (only in a vest or bunker pants) and the insurance runs the chance or rejecting the claim on the firefighter.
How messed up is that??????????
Permalink Reply by Marc on October 11, 2009 at 3:02am
We require a Minimum of Brush Coat, Helemt and Safety Vest, altho the old timers just put on the helmets. But, the rookies/nozzelmember are required to wear full structure PPE's. Explorers can choose either brush coat and helmet, or Full turnouts. I do full turnouts. that way is there is a fire, i can grab a line and not have to rush to get all my stuff on while the rookie or someone else grabs a line.
Permalink Reply by Marc on October 11, 2009 at 3:06am
twice sir. Once it was a small little thing, and the other was the whole engine Compartment caught fire. Both times me and the rookie had on Full PPE's and got the fire out.
Permalink Reply by Marc on October 11, 2009 at 3:08am
About the whole lighter coat thing. We use our Brush Coats mostly. smaller and thinner, and tend to be less dirty and brighter than out structure coats.
Permalink Reply by Marc on October 11, 2009 at 3:12am
I had my brush coat and helmet in the back of my car for a while. Since i was riding out almost everyday its was just easier to keep it in my trunk rather than going back and forth from my post station to where-ever i was riding out at.
It came in handy 3 times. 2 for MVA's and 1 for a structure fire that i happen to roll up on. Threw it on, called dispatched gave a prelim size up and got everyone far back. even tho i was in lacrosse shorts, people listend to me.
My personal opinion and dept. regs are full gear extrication gloves and a traffic vest. You do not want to wear turnout gloves on an extrication due to blood and fluids being absorbed into the gloves. Off duty if I were to stop day or night I would wear my vest, but no turnout gear for obvious reasons.