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Post by ambobod on May 3, 2009 12:49:06 GMT
I am employed by the service and run the scheme here. We wear a blue polo shirt with the embroidered scheme logo, and Community First Responder printed on the back. We also have a high quality fleece to the same spec. The service provide us with a hi-viz vest and ID card only. I do not specify any particular type of trouser to members, and normally wear jeans. Often, the public will ask about us more because we don't appear too uniform, giving an opportunity to explain about our work, and raise awareness! Incidentally, some responders in our area have been reported for wearing the green trousers and shirts by a senior member of staff. Personally I wouldn't wish to wear them both in and out of work anyway!
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Post by annandamide on May 3, 2009 23:15:37 GMT
In reply to the subject of uniform, firstly I feel that even as volunteers we should look professional. If someone turned up at my door dressed in jeans and t shirt after I had just dialed 999 I don't think I would have much confidence in them. I would want someone who looks and acts in a professional manner and looks like they should be there and knows what they are doing. When arriving at a call, wearing my high vis jacket with ID, I always introduce myself clearly, identifying myself as a First Responder. I tell them that an ambulance is on the way and will be there as soon as possible. I then assess patient and do what is necessary until the ambulance crew get there. My point is that if you act in a professional manner and take control of the situation, the patient and relatives are reassured that something is being done and someone does know what they are doing. This can most certainly done without wearing a uniform that can lead people to think we are more qualified than we are.
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Post by yulbrynner on May 12, 2009 16:56:22 GMT
In reply to the subject of uniform, firstly I feel that even as volunteers we should look professional. If someone turned up at my door dressed in jeans and T-shirt after I had just dialled 999 I don't think I would have much confidence in them. I would want someone who looks and acts in a professional manner and looks like they should be there and knows what they are doing. . I feel that with a High Vis and a badge I can still look and act with the required degree of professionalism. I am not a Paramedic or a Technician and don't want my appearance to give the impression I am more qualified than I am. That would just be setting myself up for a fall and causing them distress when they expect me to do something that requires more skill than my training. Remember “Joe public” has trouble differentiating between roles anyway without us adding to the confusion. I think it is important we are in “half civvies” to help re-enforce the fact we are trained volunteers, here to help until the crew arrives. Given that, as I tell all my group members, this job is something that should fit into your life and not vice versa, it is often just not practical to spend all day walking round in a uniform, particularly if you are at work for example. I tried overalls in my very early days as I often cover nights. I found them more troublesome and noisy to put on in a dark room than simply a shirt and trousers. All I achieved was disturbing my wife’s sleep more than needed on every night time call out and, as those of us with partners and family know, keeping them onside with a time consuming pastime is essential or you can have more problems than a few at home. To mess about putting a designated uniform on for every call is also not practical in my mind, I would rather put those couple of minutes to good use throwing on my hi vis and getting moving to my patient. I have found a high vis and ID badge has always been quite sufficient "uniform" . If you are courteous and professional with your behaviour it will speak volumes more than what you are wearing. If that isn't good enough for the patient I would suggest they were a bit hasty to dial 999!
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Post by bungle on May 12, 2009 18:14:23 GMT
On scene at an rtc, or simular event where many people can be on scene, including joe public with bright yellow tabards ect.. an identifying uniform is important, it identifies roles to the other professionals and in big incidents this is important for the on scene commander, as well as identifies to public that you are someone they can approach ect... another important issue, is infection control, protecting you and your family as well as protecting own clothes from other mischiefs!! OUrs are blue, completely different to the bright greens worn by para's and techs. They are clearley marked on back and front with ambulance community first responder and our name as well as scheme name, there is no way of mixing us up. I always great by saying my name is bungle and im a cfr, an ambulance is on route ect............
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Post by annandamide on May 12, 2009 18:35:55 GMT
Blimey, where do you respond? There is no way we would ever be sent to major incidents and I know its not in our remit to be sent to RTCs...
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Post by bungle on May 12, 2009 19:24:56 GMT
see, as i mentioned in other thread, staffs, will send and train you for everything, inc peads, rtc's and other trauma. It is a very successfull scheme with about 500 responders.
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Post by prontocab on May 12, 2009 20:45:49 GMT
Bungle,
What remit do you work under? What drugs do you carry? Who are you accountable too?
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Post by bungle on May 12, 2009 21:06:55 GMT
JRCALC, WMAS, legally accountable, also to WMAS. Course syllabus same as old ihcd tech, without 1 yr observed after.
salbutamol, aspirin 300mg, gtn, calpol, entonox, o2, adrenaline im, glucogon, hypostop
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Post by prontocab on May 12, 2009 21:29:02 GMT
So, members of your scheme are only accountable to the current medical director of WMAS. JRCALC is a set of guidelines, not an accountable body (If a health care professional gives drugs against JRCALC guidelines, then they are solely accountable). That being so, if the current medical director leaves, and a new medical director decides you should not have these remits, then you loose all your drugs/practices. Fickle isn't it, but thats the basic truth. You are volunteering on the understanding that the Medical director is prepared to take responsibilty for your drug giving actions. The BMA may recommend that he/she shouldn't do this, as they will eventually have to defend him/her in any law suit carried out by patients/relatives who lodge formal court procedures. Not sure were that will leave people like yourself, as there is a chance that the plaintiff could file private procedures against you, and the Samaritan act doesn't cover you anymore.
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Post by bungle on May 12, 2009 21:39:25 GMT
I personally would be fine, and we are all covered vicariously asking as the guidelines are followed. It's not much of a stretch for medical dr as all the drugs we give are not legally restricted to hcp's laymen can give in emergency, with my reservations about calcpol.
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Post by boarder57 on May 16, 2009 17:41:23 GMT
We purchase our own clothing and supply our responders with navy blue badged polo shirts and badged hiviz jackets. Some jackets have been donated by the ambulance service and of course ID cards. Again, as a self funded group, we are left to our own devices, but do have to follow ambulance protocol with regard to wearing badged uniform when responding. This is almost veering onto a different thread, but I feel that we should be wearing an identifiable uniform that is different from paramedics and the ambulance service. It is paramount the the public know that we are volunteers sent to assist and that if & when we turn up they know that an ambulance will not be far behind.
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Post by annandamide on May 17, 2009 21:03:32 GMT
It is paramount the the public know that we are volunteers sent to assist and that if & when we turn up they know that an ambulance will not be far behind. ... and as a volunteer I want to be seen as such. Wearing a uniform often confuses patient and family, (even clearly marked as CFR). In times if stress they don't take in the words written on your sleeve or back. We, as a group have never been confused as proffesional ambulance crew, as has happened in other groups who do wear one, but we have often been complimented on our proffesionalism as volunteers when dealing with a patient.
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Post by yulbrynner on May 21, 2009 16:19:58 GMT
One thing I forgot to mention in my earlier post is that I recently received a letter from the patient of one of my group’s callouts. Apart from praising the action taken by the responder in reference to the treatment given they were also impressed and full of praise by the way the responder introduced and identified themself upon arrival.
If we all strive to conduct ourselves in this way it will serve us far better than any "fancy threads" we dress ourselves in.
I must also stress that even when turning up to a call wearing a high vis jacket and blue jeans I have been mistaken by a paramedic on more than one occasion (and on each occasion I have been very quick to correct the person accordingly). This goes to show that A) in an emergency people are not necessarily THAT aware of what you are wearing and B) when conducting yourself in the right way you can still give out an air of professionalism, even without a designated uniform.
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shaun
New Member
Posts: 9
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Post by shaun on Jun 21, 2009 18:18:04 GMT
We used to rely on funding for our uniform but we are now fully funded by NWAS. They provide CFR's with navy cargo pants, shirt, jumper and hi vis winter jacket. Our neigbouring CFR group are also funded by NWAS but they wear all in one suits. It just shows how different the uniforms are from group to group!
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nwfr
New Member
Posts: 11
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Post by nwfr on Jun 22, 2009 11:01:22 GMT
Same as Shaun,
Navy, T-Shirt, Cargo Pants, Jumper, Fleece and Hi-Vis Jacket. I must say it is a lot better quality, to what we use to -- the green uniform!
Cheers
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