Uniform pants

[Richard B the EMT]

Reflective stripes, flashing/strobing/blinking lights, traffic cones, flares, all mean nothing to a distracted, inattentive, impaired, or "Me First, all else second" attitude driver.

Multiple FDNY, NYPD vehicles, the Health and Hospitals Corporation EMS ambulance (pre merger into the FDNY), flares and traffic cones didn't stop a determined to go his own way driver from severely injuring (now Lieutenant) EMT Carol Buffa, and killing EMT Christopher Prescott, by striking and pinning them between his car and the back of the ambulance, 10+ years ago.

DO NOT DEPEND ON REFLECTIVE CLOTHING! Keep an eye out, even on a "closed down roadway" for the idiots who ignore the blockades.

Didn't we have a video link about some jerk, upset that the road was closed, who punched out a paramedic, before the LEOs landed on his sorry arse?

[mobey]

I dunno how to direct paste a vid..... but here is the link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hPCNmxuMbk

[crotchitymedic1986]

Agree or disagree, but I used something similar as a monthly safety topic once: I parked an ambulance in the street at night with headlights and emergency lights flashing. I then placed 6 medics around the ambulance in various poses. I then placed my car in front of them at a distance of about 15 feet, with my headlights (on bright) shining at them. I then took a picture of the scene using the "flash" on my camera. You could only make out the outline of one of them, because their jacket was partially blocking one of the ambulance headlights. Then, while standing in the same position, I had them put on their reflective safety vests and took the same pic. The difference made believers of all those who didnt feel it necessary to wear a vest at night.