Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dk4vv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T07:28:06.535Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Mistaken Identity: The Effect of Badges on EMT Recognition

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Lawrence H. Brown ,
Jeff Waldman ,
Terry W. Copeland ,
William E. Smithson  and
N. Heramba Prasad
Lawrence H. Brown*
Affiliation:
Division of Emergency Medical Services, Department of Emergency Medicine, East Carolina University School of Medicine, Greenville, North Carolina
Jeff Waldman
Affiliation:
Summer Ventures Program, East Carolina University School of Medicine, Greenville, North Carolina
Terry W. Copeland
Affiliation:
Dare County Emergency Medical Services, Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina
William E. Smithson
Affiliation:
Dare County Emergency Medical Services, Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina
N. Heramba Prasad
Affiliation:
Division of Emergency Medical Services, Department of Emergency Medicine, East Carolina University School of Medicine, Greenville, North Carolina
*
Division of Emergency Medical Services, Department of Emergency Medicine, East Carolina University School of Medicine, Building M, Physicians' Quadrangle, Greenville, NC 27858USA
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Introduction:

Many emergency medical services (EMS) providers wear badges with their uniforms. This study was undertaken to determine whether emergency medical technicians (EMTs) who wear badges with their uniforms are more likely to be mistaken for law enforcement personnel than are those who do not wear badges.

Hypothesis:

Emergency medical services providers who wear badges are more likely to be mistaken for law enforcement personnel than are those who do not wear badges.

Methods:

High school students, college students, civic organizations, and church groups were shown slides of different uniforms and badges/insignia and asked to identify the person portrayed. Responses were categorized as “EMS,” “law enforcement,” or “other.” Frequency of responses for each uniform and insignia were compared with chi-square analysis.

Results:

Fifty-nine percent of the uniforms with badges were identified as law enforcement personnel. Only 5.5% of the uniforms with badges were identified as “EMS,” compared with 74% of the uniforms with a Star of Life (p<0.001).

Conclusion:

Individuals wearing uniforms with badges are more likely to be identified as law enforcement personnel than are EMS personnel. Emergency medical services providers who do not wish to be mistaken for law enforcement personnel should wear the Star of Life, not a badge, with their uniform.

Keywords

badgesemergency medical servicesemergency medical technicianidentificationinsigniasafetyStar of Lifeuniform
Type
Brief Report
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 10 , Issue 3: CJ Shanaberger Memorial Issue , September 1995 , pp. 195 - 197
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 1995

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Doran, J, Lavery, RF, Tortella, BJ: Badges, blues and body armor: Have we gone too far? Prehospital and Disaster Medicine 1993;8:S76. Abstract.Google Scholar
2. Tintinalli, JE: Violent patients and the prehospital provider. Ann Emerg Med 1993;22:1276–1279.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3. Atkinson, WK, Bassett, AW: Gang violence and EMS. Journal of Emergency Medical Services 1993;18:55–63.Google Scholar
4. Gaston, B: Caught in the crossfire. Journal of Emergency Medical Services 1993;18:74–77.Google Scholar
5. Heiskell, LE, Carmona, RH: Tactical emergency medical services: Emerging subspecialty of emergency medicine. Ann Emerg Med 1994:23:778–785.Google Scholar