Hi-Vis Garments for Highway Response

[Jamie Davis, the Podmedic]

Dan from the Paramedic Blog and a product designer over at Allmed.net has been leading the charge focusing on some of the reportedly compliant "Hi-Vis" gear being foisted on the EMS and Fire Departments by some suppliers.

Read some of Dan's blog comments here.

He says that some manufacturers and suppliers are putting ANSI/ISEA compliance labels inside of gear that doesn't meet the standards. They are not in violation of anything, however, because compliance with the standard is not their responsibility but the individual agency's.

Is that bogus or what!

Here is a great article on how the standards for Hi-Vis work from the standards organization themselves.

Is your agency up to standards?

How many thousands or millions of dollars over the last year has been spent on equipment that isn't compliant?

This issue is going to blow up in our faces, folks. Some responder is going to get hurt on a scene and the lawyers are going to look at the standards for their safety equipment including their coats and safety vests. With the manufacturers off the hook, your agency will be left holding the bag!

I discussed this on the recent January episode of the MedicCast Live where we talked about our predictions for EMS in 2009. Check out the show here.

[Medic 1]

Yea well at least you guy HAVE Hi-VIS clothing. The private firm I used to work for [and that supplies EMS staff for the State 000 system] issues the staff with dark green pants, 100% polyester and with no reflective qualities at all, the shirt it a light green also with no Hi Vis. On a job we must rely on the addition of out Fluro vest that we wear at all MVA's. Funnily enough [NOT] the warm jacket that is issues also has no Hi Vis qualities and makes us look like Inmates of the local prison .........there have been Paramedics refused entry to the local Prison Infirmary as the Guards thought the Paramedics were Inmates!!!
In this day and age it is criminal not to issue adequate PPE to staff and make them as safe as possible, well done St John Ambulance, keep counting your money and don't bother about running a decent EMS!!!

[WILD38]

I think that it is great that everyone is going towards HI VIS stuff. However thhere is a line to be drawn. I work for a private company in a bigger city with 2 major hwys running through it. We are issued coats with HI VIS on it, plus a Bright green vest full of HI VIS. In addition we must put on turn out gear if we are on scene of a MVA. The turn out gear of course has HI VIS plus we must put the vest over it!

The Fire Department I am on also requires us to put on a similar HI VIS vest over our turn out gear any time we are on the roadway.

My personal feelings is that I'm glad that people are thinking about the HI VIS. However I think thta to many of us rely to much on HI VIS and not using our heads. DON'T STEP OUT INTO TRAFFIC! If there are cars whizzinig by, reposition your rig to block more lanes. A HI VIS vest or coat will not stop a vehicle. A rig will do a much better job!

[Medic 1]

Hi Dude
I'm with you there brother....AMEN!

However I think that HiVis has a place in the urban setting too.......just in a house or back yard with poor lighting [the type where we get assaulted in!], it means that your buddy can spot you!

I have implemented a higher level, I issue all the safety guys here on site with active vests, with built in LEDs. We might stand out like a Christmas tree but we can see where the Emergency Crew is and any time.

stay safe!

[David Marc Anderson]

And just how are the manufacturers getting away with false labeling?