EMT Boots

[Dustdevil]

I don't think you need boots at all, unless you're jumping out of helicopters into rugged terrain. The ankle support they supposedly provide is seriously overrated, if not bogus. They take a lot longer to get on if you are sleeping/relaxing sans footwear. They're more expensive than shoes. They're uglier than shoes. I just don't see a point in them, and personally would probably prohibit them at my school or service to cut down on the wanker look.

Steel toed safety shoes and ankle boots are preferable in all respects, as far as I am concerned.

I have worked for agencies that required steel toes and those that do not. It seems to vary a lot. But then again, a LOT of agencies simply don't have their $hit together on their safety programs either. Their ignorance accounts for a lot of the variation. Seems like a great many agencies spend more time designing their badges than they do considering the safety and functionality of their uniforms.

[Guest]

Steel toed safety shoes and ankle boots are preferable in all respects, as far as I am concerned.

Sorry to disagree dust, but steel toes are an oxymoronic term, latest studies...OK MYTH-BUSTERS clearly demonstrate amputations are a very serious possibily, steel shanks are a must although.

I would rather have my foot crushed (I have btw).... if I had steel toes on I would be wearing a prosthetic device....oh now that was the wrong thing to say.

Weave, duck, and bob!

[Katee]

Geeez... enough already! Every thread seems to end up being about how programs suck... or it's my imagination, which may indeed be true.

Hey, my boots are so comfy that if I were on duty and wanting to take a nap, I could sleep in em'!

[Dustdevil]

Sorry to disagree dust, but steel toes are an oxymoronic term, latest studies...OK MYTH-BUSTERS clearly demonstrate amputations are a very serious possibily, steel shanks are a must although.

I would rather have my foot crushed (I have btw).... if I had steel toes on I would be wearing a prosthetic device....oh now that was the wrong thing to say.

Hmmm... I think I understand what you are saying, but I am not quite sure. Are you saying that significant crushing weight will push the steel cap down and cause a traumatic amputation? I can see that. Not sure how much of a factor that is though. Seems like any force significant enough to do that would be so traumatic as to crush the foot severely enough to kill it anyhow. But you raise a very good point that I have not ever considered before. Are steel toes tested to a national standard like ANSI? If so, what is that standard and what will it withstand? Did you actually see this addressed on "Myth Busters" or were you just using that jokingly?

Hmmm... definitely going to have to look into this one and possibly rethink it.

Grace, I have no idea what you are talking about. You were the first one to post here in over a month. :?

[chazmedic]

Yes, it was an episode of MythBusters.

I have a really good friend who owns College Shoe and Repair. He is an authorized dealer of Danner, Rocky, Red Wing, and Thorogood. He gave me the following info:

First, try before you buy! Very important. All brands are made differently and therefore, will fit differently.

Second, the boot should have a little heel slide at first. Not much, but some.

Third, get the size right! Have your foot measured. Your feet actually continue to grow and widen throughout your life. The ball of your heel should be at the widest point of the boot. How do you find this? Glad you asked! Easist way to measure this is the ball is the widest point of your foot, slightly below your pinkie toe. The widest part of the sole, below the toes should match up with the ball of the foot.

Fourth, what do you want? Waterproof? Insulated? Read each style carefully. The higher the grams of insulation, the more your feet will sweat.

Fifth, what kind of warranty do they have. Danners, Redwings, and Thorogoods have excellent warranty's. In fact, I had a pair of Danners that ripped down the side after 2 years of use. The tear was the result of a bad piece of leather according to Danner. They shipped me a brand new pair.

And finally, do you want a pair that can be resoled?

Some other info. You want to buy only American made? That would be Danner, Thorogood, or Redwings. Rockys, WalMart brand, and Galls are made in China.

As for steel toes, I had my left foot and big toe crushed at work once. Six minor surgeries later all is well. The doc said if I was wearing a pair of steel toes, it would not have happened. I had to wear steel toes for awhile because of the delicate state my poor tootsies were in. Not learning from the past I no longer wear steel toes. You can also get SWAT style non metallic boots in a polymer toe cap. Lighter weight.

[Michael]

Have your foot measured. Your feet actually continue to grow and widen throughout your life.

I've heard that the feet also expand each day (if you use them), so that one should try on and buy shoes only in the afternoon. If that and the above quote are true, I guess they contract again at night, but not completely. Weird. Now I'm wondering about hands. Time to do longitudinal study of major-league catchers...

[Guest]

Yes, it was an episode of MythBusters.

Thank you kind knight.

Myth-Busters:

Episode 42: Steel Toe-Cap Amputation

Adam and Jamie slice and dice a myth from the construction industry. According to some laborers, steel-toed boots can be more dangerous than the regular variety. Apparently, a worker from Down Under was awarded financial compensation for losing three toes when a heavy weight fell on his steel toe-capped boot. But were the unfortunate Aussie's steel toe caps turned into toe cutters, as the myth stipulates?

premiere: Nov. 9, 2005

One other item....some goof (on a Stat transfer) walked in an MRI room....a walk on the wild side?

Quoting a California Govonator ......"Stick around"

I have very seriously looked at the fiber/fiberglass composite type of protective toe wear, they do not wick heat away or get as hot. The composites are considerably lighter (I have in my Carreer had to implement the "run away theorem" more often than working in an industrial environment "dancing over drilling pipe". Working over water would another reason not to wear a heavy boot, as most PFDs have only 15 lks bouyancy combined with the hard ware worn on some belt's one could seriously jepodiise a life your own!

I believe that the generalized environment should dictate a common cents approach not a regulation set in stone for the EMS worker.

[Dustdevil]

Okay, just did a couple hours of research on this "Myth Busters" thing and found that it was a BUSTED myth, not a substantiated one.

http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/M...usters-Episodes says:

Episode 42

November 9, 2005

"Steel Boot Toe Cutter

Steel-toe boots are more dangerous to your toes than normal boots when a heavy weight is dropped on them. Whereas a normal boot would just crush your toes, a steel toe would curl and crumple in, cutting your toes off.

Busted

Using similar tests to those used to test steel toe boot certification, Adam and Jamie determine that your toes are much safer with steel toe boots than without. There was no toe-cutting curling of the steel toe, and even using a blade attachment didn't work, only glancing off the steel toe to cut right above where it ended.

Their specific findings were:

• 75lbs from 3 feet (official ANSI test height and weight): mashed the leather down a bit, but nothing injurious.

400lbs from 3 ft: more deformation in the steel plate, but only damage to frangible foot was a broken metatarsal (big toe). Adam: "I want to see some toes cut off or crushed beyond all recognition"

400lbs from 6 ft: a lot of pancaking of steel cap and lots of broken bones beneath, but no toe amputation.

• I'll keep my steel toes, thank you!

[Guest]

400 lbs. is for girls!

Not realistic at all in industry.....drill collar pipe try 1200 lbs. just from 2 feet.

Hell, half my patients weigh that much.

Frozen toes.....priceless!

PS its Hollywood.

[chazmedic]

After my ordeal I should still be wearing them, but history teaches us nothing, right? The steel toes I wore was a pair of Red Wings that I still have and are still in great shape.

The kind of boot to stay away from are the 8 inch fire service turnout boots that look like duty boots. There are companies that will sell these to your service as the "greatest thing since sliced bread and the wheel". Water proof and great protection on MVA's. Remember, they are turnout boots, meant for fighting fire, not walking in all day :walk: . Very heavy, very hot (did I mention VERY heavy). My fire department (job #1) bought everyone a pair of these as "duty boots" for around the station and EMS calls since the company said they were "perfect" for that. Blood can't soak through. We bought 110 pairs. I think 10 people wore them. Mine are still in the back of my locker. The EMS company (job #2. Come on, I got 3 kids that eat like locusts!) had dealings with the same company but fortunately didn't fall for it. :walk: