EMS identification vests?

[nah2323]

Hey all,

First time poster, long time lurker. I'm an EMT-B as well as a National Ski Patrol Alpine Patroller, all of which vollie. I might be in the market for a vest to wear on ems calls, but want some feedback on what's considered appropriate. With the budgets of our department always under the microscope, it doesn't look like we're due for any new gear in the near future.

Being a NSP Alpine patroller means I have a "metric ass-ton" of gear related, most of which red and black with white crosses on almost every panel of fabric. I currently own a really nice Patagonia vest for my early/late season patroller duties that I love the build quality of. It's your standard red with black shoulders, radio harness built into the left chest, six pockets, and nice reflective white crosses being 4" on the front and 9"+ on the rear.

I've been looking for something online for some time with the star of life on it, perhaps blue, and have only found a few vests with pockets and radio harnesses built in. Most of them look poorly designed, and the only one I think is decent looks like plasticy material commonly found in clothing you receive for buying 20 cases of your favorite cereal.

All in all, I'm undecided whether the vest I currently own is appropriate to wear on EMS calls for my department.

Your thoughts?

TIA

nah2323