EMS Forum Activity on Hi-Vis Garments

I talked about the recent questions coming about from the new Hi-Vis gear requirements and standards that so many agencies are rushing to fulfill. You can listen to that discussion in the most recent MedicCast Live episode.

Hi Vis Forum Discussion

I had mentioned that I would start a discussion on the topic over at the MedicCast Forums (Forums.MedicCast.com) but in the rush this week, I forgot.  Luckily, one of our close friends from down under, Jerry, emailed to keep me honest and I jumped up to add my opinion about this issue.

Read and comment on that discussion here.

The Deal With Hi-Vis Compliance

With too many stories cropping up about EMTs and paramedics killed on highway response scenes, it is simply a no-brainer to comply with Hi-Vis standards as a department.  When those standards are not universally used by the EMS gear manufacturers, that is a problem.

The challenge has arisen that much of the current line of EMS and First Responder gear does not meet the ANSI/ISEA standards despite carrying an ANSI label inside.  The reason this is happening is apparently the standards compliance is not the place of the manufacturer but falls on the agency.

PhillyDan’s Paramedic blog has a great link to a Q & A on this issue here.

Dan is a product designer for AllMed.net (Alliance Medical) and is a contributor to the MedicCast from time to time.  We’ll try to have Dan on here soon to get his answers on just what compliance means to your small agency.

Share Your Views In The EMS Community

There are many ways to share this valuable information with your friends and colleagues.

• Talk to your supervisors and send them the link.
• Take your “compliant” gear and see if you can follow the simple steps to test compliance. (all you need is a ruler or tape measure)
• Visit trade shows and see if you can spot the non-compliant and mislabeled coats and vests.
• Ask your vendor if they know the standard. (They sold you the stuff – right?)
• Talk this up in EMS forums like ours.  Paste in the link to this page.

To comment on our forums follow the link below or send me an email directly to podmedic@mac.com

Head over to the Forums Now!  Add your comments and read others viewpoints.