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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
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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

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References

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