09/17/2026
A little more on looking sharp . . .
By Michael Morse
As firefighters, we work hard, get dirty, and sometimes wear that as a badge of honor. We are also emergency medical services (EMS) providers; a dirty emergency medical technician (EMT) or paramedic is simply unacceptable.
Of course, there are exceptions; it is impossible to arrive at a patient’s house “crisp and clean” when dispatched while returning from a fire.
The good news is that dying people do not really care if the help they called for shows up smelling like smoke, covered in soot, or soaking wet. They tend to be past judgment and are at a point where Attila the Hun could arrive and they would welcome him warmly.
The bad news is (for the purpose of this article anyway) that most people who call 911 are not dying. Many are suffering, and their call for help is necessary. Showing up at their home in salty firefighting gear does not impress them; they are looking for medical treatment and transport, not extras from the set of Chicago Fire.
Looking presentable for EMS calls serves the two following purposes:
1. Good Community Relations
The public we serve has a right to expect competent, presentable people responding to their emergencies. Their taxes contribute to our salaries. Most of them will seldom need us, and many will never. Some call us daily or weekly, but those “frequent flyers” are the exception rather than the rule. A seasoned medic explained to me one day when I was convinced that the world was falling apart, and 911 abuse was the catalyst. He said:
“Think of all of the homes and businesses that you pass on the way to the person who calls you every day. Then, think of those places you have never been, rather than the ones you have.”
“Clothes make the man,” my father often said—and he was right. First impressions mean a lot, and in our business, first impressions are often the ONLY impression. People requiring a 911 response are experiencing a life event that will very likely be a topic of their conversation for many years. I still tell the story of the Warwick (RI) Fire Department firefighters who responded to my parent’s home during a medical emergency involving my father. Unfortunately, during the call, my mother suffered a medical emergency of her own. The firefighters who responded were fantastic. They handled everything with professionalism, grace, and competence, and they looked good while doing so! Had they responded in dirty turnout gear, I wouldn’t have minded, and the outcome of the incident would have been the same. My parents, on the other hand, tell the story mentioning how crisp and professional the crew who came to their rescue looked.
Little things go a long way in the battle of public perception. Remember, without THEM (the people calling 911 for medical problems), there’ll be far fewer of US.
2. Better Company Morale
People feel better when they look good, and when we look good, we ARE better. It is subconscious, but the sharp appearance of firefighters responding makes a difference. When we look like some bedraggled cave dwellers, that also affects our patients and us. Even after midnight, when faces are creased, eyes puffy, and full uniforms more an option than a rule, we can look presentable. T-shirts need not be wrinkled relics from the bottom of your locker with some silly, “Firefighters Fight What You Fear,” slogan; they can be company shirts laid out so they stay relatively crisp.
People judge. We are always being watched and oftentimes recorded. Looking good is half the battle. We are ambassadors for the city, the town, or the county we represent. You wouldn’t show up at a fire half dressed, nor should you show up at an EMS call without looking the part.
As an EMS officer, my crew knew that I expected shirts tucked in, shoes tied, and things looking orderly. I had no control over how the firefighters who responded with us presented themselves, but more times than not, they knew where I stood, and they put a little effort into their appearance. Plus, it never hurt that I always looked professional on calls.
It’s not just the public who judges us.
Originally published in Fire Engineering
