In 2018, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) estimated there were 1,115,000 career and volunteer firefighters in the US. They have been at the forefront of the pandemic since the first known case of the virus in early 2020. Firefighters are, in most cases, certified emergency medical providers. So it’s no surprise that they were needed during the COVID-19 pandemic, which stretched medical resources and manpower thin.

Rescue Calls

The NFPA reports that the fire department responds to more medical calls than most people know. 2021’s data showed that the average fire department has about 65% medical and rescue calls compared to only 4% of fire calls. In 2019, 62% of fire departments provided emergency medical services, while 46% provided basic life support services.

Given their prominent frontline roles, the number of on-duty firefighter deaths in 2020 was higher than ever since the late 1970s. The only exception was the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It is therefore critical that firefighters be provided with the necessary protection measures. According to the lead physician advisor for the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) COVID-19 task force, Dr. James Augustine, one such measure is carefully maintaining Personal protective equipment (PPE) stocks in case of sudden disruptions in the supply chain. Having enough PPE to keep firefighters safe during operations is a key priority.

Secondly, it is important that key information about the risks involved with COVID-19 be delivered to firefighters clearly and concisely, including the way exposure to such risks can be mitigated. It is also important that firefighters are kept aware of official communication channels so that the spread of disinformation is curtailed. This is to ensure that incidences of vaccine avoidance are reduced.

In the same way, their roles in the fight against COVID-19 should be recognized in that they should receive a level of support commensurate with their service. In Kansas, for example, the Kaiser Health News reported that firefighters experienced shortages in critical protective gear. Fire Departments were then forced to bid against hospitals and other entities for equipment like masks, gowns, and gloves.

Good planning and proper provisions along with clear dissemination of information will make for a safer fire department amid COVID-19. Reach out to us for more on departmental safety.

Firefighters play an important role by helping to control fire outbreaks and rescuing people trapped in house fire accidents. The impact of their jobs is mostly felt in densely populated areas. Statistics show that in 2018, 67% of professional firefighters worked in areas with a population of 25,000 or more. Needless to say, firefighters are important parts of keeping our day-to-day lives safe.

 

Fire departments employ embroidered patches to give themselves a unique identity. Patches have symbols and text inscriptions that help firefighters express their commitment to their department’s core objective while also making it simple for individuals in the communities they serve to recognize them. The symbolic nature of fire dept patches emphasizes the need for an excellent design. Here are some design tips for creating an excellent firefighter patch.

 

Make It Bold

 

Strong designs and bold writing are recommended for easy visibility. Traditional needlework procedures make it difficult to recreate delicate, tiny, and small writing. While developing fire dept patches, you should use thick and easily visible text. Thick and visible text makes fire dept patches more appealing, legible, and recognizable.

 

Simplicity Is Essential

 

When creating designs, most people prefer simplicity and avoid complexity. When it comes to patches, the same rule applies, and you should keep to a minimal design. Consider the most well-known patches, such as law-enforcement department patches, and you’ll see how straightforward they are. People easily recognize an organization’s patch when it has a straightforward and simple design.

 

Pay Attention to Border Colors

 

When creating fire dept patches, the border should not be disregarded. Remember that border-color might increase or decrease backdrop depth, which affects visibility. Border colors compliment the background and grab the most attention since they provide depth to it. Test out different colors in your borders to find which one causes your design to pop the most.

 

Contrast Matters

 

Humans are more predisposed to respond to contrast than to flatness. With the correct contrast, an emblem will be imprinted on the minds of anybody who sees it. A good illustration of this design principle is black and white patches, which have stood the test of time because they are easy to remember. This does not imply that you must adhere to a black and white scheme, but choosing a bold color scheme with adequate contrast can assist you in finding the perfect balance.

 

Consulting and exchanging ideas with a design company helps immensely in designing an excellent patch for your fire department. Always get a second opinion on your design, and don’t be afraid to make big changes. If you need design ideas and professional guidance for your custom fire dept patches, contact us today!

 

As early as 1888, dogs have been being trained to help in police investigations. The role that a well-trained K-9 dog plays in an investigation can ultimately make or break a case. After years of careful training and program development, we can now see the effect of K-9 units all over. K-9 decals can be seen on several police vehicles, and entire divisions are devoted to the training and handling of these dogs. In this blog post, we’ll examine the growth and branding of the K-9 units of the police force.

The Mighty K-9

The journey of the official K-9 division stems all the way back to 19th century England, where dogs were used to try and track down Jack the Ripper. From there, german shepherds and other breeds of working and hound dogs were frequently introduced into drug busts and missing persons cases. While these dogs may not have any weapons, they are still provided with a swearing-in ceremony and honorable police badges.

K-9 Outfitting

Even though the first instance of police apparel came about in 1829, it took up until the 1940s for dogs to get their own garb. Today, several pieces of equipment are worn by police dogs, including a vest with identifying patches, bulletproof vests, and even cameras in some instances. Quick identification is crucial when handling a police dog. Without visible indicators, civilians may assume a K-9 worker isn’t on duty and pet it. This kind of interference can jeopardize an investigation, so most K-9 dogs are outfitted with obvious law enforcement patches and velcro police patches.

K-9 Vehicle Modifications

Whenever you read one of the “K-9 police vehicle” decals on a police car, they are not simply put on regular police cars with dogs in them. K-9 police cars need to be outfitted with crates and ample air conditioning in the back of the vehicle to keep the dog safe, comfortable, and fit to work. K-9 cars have special storage areas for everything the dog may need, and K-9 officers sometimes even have specialty decals on their personal cars indicating the dog on board.

Without a doubt, K-9 units are a huge part of any local police department. In order to keep these dogs safe and doing their very best in the line of duty, officers outfit everything in the K-9 sphere with certain decals and badges. K-9 units also draw a lot of positive attention to local law enforcement, with exciting demonstrations often being held for the public. If you are looking into expanding your K-9 unit, or simply want to give your existing unit a bit of branding, give us a call today!

From cops to SWAT team members, uniformed officers at all levels, agencies, and rankings benefit from custom police patches. These police uniform patches are not only the perfect piece to pull a uniform together, but they are also a great way to symbolize the camaraderie of your team. So what are the other reasons behind law enforcement having different types of patches for their team? Here are just a few.

Area Identification

According to Wikipedia, there are 17,985 U.S. police agencies in the United States which include City Police Departments, County Sheriff’s Offices, State Police/Highway Patrol, and Federal Law Enforcement Agencies. Many special units within the department have their own patch that identifies the person wearing the emblem as a member of that team. Law enforcement agencies uniquely identify themselves by the badge they wear on their chest and the patch on their shoulder.

Types of Patches

There are different types of patches as well. Customized patches allow some freedom in the design for each agency. The designs are typically changed over the years to best reflect the culture and history of each community. Every local, county, and state agency has its own special design that makes its patch unique not only to their department but to their community.

Use of Symbolism

Each symbol used on these patches is something officers have come to honor and respect; that represents the history of the department and those who have served before them. Some symbols used in law enforcement patches are Greek Gods, war heroes, community animals, landmarks, and much more. For example, Clark County’s Police Department’s current patch was designed to show the scenery and the town’s proximity to the Columbia River. There is also a compass that represents the Lewis and Clark expedition. Lastly, the U.S. and Washington flags were included, which former Chief Don Chaney who created the patch thought were important to include on the design.

Customized patches are important for law enforcement identification and symbolism. To discuss the creation of customized patches for your agency, reach out to us today.

The term police is derived from the Greek word polis, which means “city.” However, the first policing agency was established in 3000 BC in Egypt. Police officers are often regarded as “authority figures.” And as such, they are expected to uphold the law by abiding by certain codes of conduct. Their dress is regulated by specific policies that outline how their uniforms should be worn and what articles can or cannot be attached to them. Police badges are an important part of the uniform. Here’s how they complete the uniform and image of law enforcement personnel.

1. They Help Identify Members of a Specific Police Force

Police badges help distinguish one member of a police force from another. They are often affixed to the uniform in specific places to ease identification. A good example is using a badge to differentiate officers from different departments or jurisdictions. Some badges indicate where the officer works and in what capacity. For example, badges may be divided into categories such as detective, special agent, etc.

2. They Establish Authority

Police badges help establish authority. When an officer walks into a room, their badge immediately lets people know that they are there in an official capacity and deserve respect. It’s like the letterhead of a company. People know that they are dealing with professionals. Police badges can also serve as a way to identify non-uniformed police personnel. For example, plainclothes officers investigating a crime would be carrying badges to indicate their status as police and distinguish them from other civilians.

3. They Enhance the Uniform

Police badges complete the uniform by adding another level of professionalism. It is a final touch. Badges serve to bring together all previous elements such as clothing, accessories, and equipment. Together, these items complete an image of professionalism and authority.

Badges are often made from metals such as nickel, pewter, or brass because these materials allow for a long-lasting finish. They can also be made from other materials such as leather, cloth, or plastic. The shape of badges may vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. However, most police badges feature an image of the official seal of the police force. Police badge customization allows them to have added feature designs that reflect or represent the area they operate, such as local flowers, animals, landmarks, etc.

Police badges help police officers to identify themselves and each other. They allow police forces to establish authority and enhance their image. And, police badge customization allows police forces to add personal touches to their police badges for a more personalized look. Call us today to learn more about our police badge customization services.