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PPE for EMS Calls or shorts?
Our department requires that on call firefighters who are wearing shorts when responding to a medical must cover them with either Wildland Gear or Structural gear. Is this an uncommon requirement for the bloodborne pathogens? Or how many departments allow firefighters to wear shorts on alarms?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Andy Perkins on
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My department does not allow you to wear shorts eather and it is for our safty what if the patient has a diease if it comes into contact with your skin then you will becom ill as well. As far as i know none of my mutral aid departments allow shorts eather.
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Permalink Reply by Bob Bennett on
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All are e.m.s personnel are not allowed to wear shorts to any calls do to the bloodborn problem.
Are firefighters can wear shorts because they put on there bunker pants on all alarms.
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Permalink Reply by Kenneth on
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I'd say it all comes down to BSI. If you're not covered then you're not protected. It's amazing the amount of blood a pair of pants will absorb away from your skin.
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Permalink Reply by Jeanine on
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SHORTS ARE BAD!!! It all comes down to exposure and liability. Our rule is you wear shorts to the station but you must wear your bunker gear pants before you step on scene. Plus...if you have a bleeder, I really don't want blood on my legs...ewwwwwwww
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Permalink Reply by Oldman on
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For those who wear bunker pants on EMS calls, here is something to think about.
Do you have a separate set of bunker pants which you wear only on EMS calls? I'm bettin' not. While I understand the need to protect ourselves from the bugs out there, shouldn't we be trying to protect the customers we serve as well?
We wear the same bunker pants inside a fire and have them contaminated with who knows what kind of chemicals, soot, and cancer causing agents, and then have a response for an EMS call inside someone's home. We wear the same set of bunker pants inside that home, and guess what... we've just contaminated that home and exposed the occupants to what ever is on those pants.
Say this EMS call is in Snob Hill, with influential rich muckity mucks, and their high dollar carpets and furniture. Yes we helped their loved one, possibly saving their lives, and the only thing they are going to remember is; "the fire department ruined the carpet/furniture". (voice of experience)
My department wears bunker gear on fires. We wear duty shirts and long pants on EMS calls. You won't even be allowed on the apparatus with shorts, even in the Houston area summer.
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Permalink Reply by James on
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bunker gear, or a jumpsuit if you respond in shorts over here. some of the other department in the area actually let there guys respond on the ambulance in shorts and sandles. makes no sence to me.
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Permalink Reply by Daniel Singletary on
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Shorts...don't expect to be taken seriously while on duty, unless your on Reno 9-1-1.
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Permalink Reply by Duce on
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I dont buy it, if you are not allowed to wear shorts and the reason is PPE, then we all should be wearing long sleeves. Whats the difference? your arms are exposed from mid bicep to wrist. If ya get shit, piss, or blood on ya.... take a shower! thats my .02 cents
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Permalink Reply by FETC on
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I guess I will throw this out to be the devil's advocate. Everyone who said "no shorts" because of fluids and infection, are you all wearing tyvek suits?
Does your department make you wear long sleeve shirts on every call? If you are getting fluids on you in the first place, then that is a training problem, regardless of what you are wearing. Now I agree, the more we wear for coverage, the better off we are for layed protection, but come on, I see people start an IV on a patient, rest the patients arm on their thigh and watch it bleed all over them... that is a training issue.
Do nurses and doctors wear gloves on every patient they touch?
Your ambulance carries protective garments to allow the responder to achieve the appropriate protection level when needed: tyvek suits, booties, glasses, goggles, splash shields, etc. Otherwise, we would all be donning hazmat suits with hepa masks for every call.
Comfort, along with safety is key to having responders who are positive. For the most part, people do not care what the EMT or firefighter is wearing, as long as they come quick and take care of their emergency.
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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on
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You kneel in urine - YUCK!
Is that on calls, or just one of those inside Station 6 idiosyncracies?
Are we going to have to start pulling decon trailers behind the medics?
Of course, they'd be very small trailers, as they'd only have to reach up to your knees. :-)
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Permalink Reply by ERCVFD 842 C. Warren on
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Tom Being a responder who has been infected with MSRA I can tell you that intact skin is NOT a great barrier against infection, when I got infected, my skin on my hand was intact and I wore PPE and the MSRA just happened to have on my ink pen from were a nurse had used it outside of the PT's room after she came out of it.
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