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Modern fire department patches are packed with symbolism you may not be aware of. While fire-fighting itself can be traced back to colonial days, it first began as a community-based organization during the 1600s. During the 1700s and early 1800s, fire-fighting evolved into an orderly system of volunteers and finally into the first fully-paid department, founded in Columbus, Ohio during the 1850s. Here’s what to know about the symbolism of fire department patches.

From Humble Beginnings

Fire department patches provide identification as well as a sense of camaraderie, and every modern firefighter can be seen wearing patches that showcase and pay tribute to firefighting history.

The Maltese Cross

One of the common symbols found on firefighting patches is the eight-point Maltese Cross. First awarded to the Knights of St. John on the island of Malta, the cross rapidly became a symbol of loyalty and protection for those who served. It was the first time fire had been used as a weapon in war and the Knights were known to rescue injured people from the flames. In modern times, the eight-point Maltese Cross is seen on badges, patches, and even on the side of some fire trucks.

The Scramble

The center-most part of a firefighter’s patch features several symbols, often a ladder and an ax, among others. Known as the scramble, more modern additions to this section, such as helmets and hoses, have been added in recent years to symbolize both the history and the current commitment to the trade.

Bugle

Bugles are often seen on firefighter patches, symbolizing leadership within the department. This is a reference to the days before wireless radios when bugles were used to issue orders. The person with the bugle was commonly recognized as the leader. Patches with a large number of bugles indicate seniority.

Red Hot

Whatever symbols a firefighter’s patches feature, they will all have the color red somewhere in them. Red is typically associated with the fire department, flames in general, and the history of fire trucks being painted red for better visibility. The color red in the patches, usually seen in the scramble or the Maltese Cross, represents bravery and the dedication of all firefighters, both past and present.

Knowing the symbolism of firefighter patches may even make you more likely to notice them. According to research, in 2018, 67% of firefighters were working in communities with a population of at least 25,000, making it easy for these brave men and women to get lost in the crowd. With custom patches, that will no longer be the case.

For many people, a custom face mask is likely to remain a part of their life for a long time. During the COVID-19 pandemic, our sources found that face masks, washing your hands, and keeping a strong distance from people remained the best way to avoid this disease. Caring for your custom face mask will help keep yourself safe.

Avoid Touching the Mask

When taking off your mask, it is important first to wash your hands or use 60% alcohol or higher hand sanitizer. Do not touch the front of your mask but instead grab the ear loops or untie the ties. Taking these steps helps to keep you from spreading this disease any further. It also helps keep you from getting it into your eyes and experiencing an infection in that way.

Remove any filters, throw them away, and place your mask directly in the laundry basket before you clean it. Later, you can put in more filters when you go out again. Filters help to minimize your risk of infection and shouldn’t be reused because they may contain trace amounts of bacteria or even the virus. After you wash your hands a second time, you can take care of your mask.

Cleaning Your Custom Mask

Read the directions for your custom face mask to see how it should be cleaned. If there are no instructions, there are a few different steps that you can take to keep your masks clean. For example, masks that use cotton-based materials can be washed in your laundry machine with hot water. Place it in with your other clothes, and it should be safely cleaned and sanitized.

If your mask is made of more delicate materials, you may need to wash them by hand. You can use hot, soapy water to sanitize your mask and keep it safe. Scrub it for at least 20 seconds before you finish, rubbing all sides of the mask and the ties. Then, you can place your mask in high heat in a normal dryer to sanitize it further. Try to do this after every use to minimize disease spread.

Then, you can place your custom face mask in storage to keep it protected. You don’t have to put it in any specialized storage container. A simple drawer is good enough. Find an empty or relatively clean place where you can place your mask.

With these tips, you will not only benefit from wearing a mask to keep you safe, but you will also take advantage of important safeguards to ensure your mask remains clean and safe to wear. To get started creating your custom face mask, reach out today!

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) estimates that, in 2018, there were around 1,115,000 career and volunteer firefighters in the United States. That’s a lot of manpower. It’s also a lot of equipment — not just the big stuff, but small things like uniform patches as well.

If you’re looking to acquire patches for official use or even just for fun, how do you choose the right backing to ensure they’ll work for their intended purpose? What options are available for patch backing and how permanent are those options? Let’s take a look at four of the most common patch backing options in a little more detail.

Sew-On Patches

Sew-on patches are the most common and also the most permanent option available. They provide a solid and durable hold that will last for years to come, even when exposed to the elements or otherwise rough environments.

Iron-On Patches

Using an adhesive material on the backing, iron-on patches are by far the easiest and fastest way to attach a patch. Use an iron to soften the backing, then place the patch where you want it. While iron-on patches are not as secure as sewn-on patches, they do provide a lasting hold that will withstand pretty much anything you can really put it through.

Velcro Patches

One step down in terms of permanence is velcro backing. Choose velcro patches if you’re looking for a secure hold that also allows for quick and easy removal and relocation.

Tape-Backing Patches

Tape is a good option for non-permanent patches used for festivals, concerts, and other events. However, be careful to choose heavy-duty tape to ensure a secure hold for as long as you want it.

There are also backing options such as plastic, button loop, and even pinning patches with safety pins. The only real limit is your imagination.

In the end, patches are a great way to decorate an outfit, show support for a cause, show affiliation with a group, or otherwise just have some fun with an old jacket or shirt. Regardless of what your end goal is, choosing the right patch backing will help you get the look you want and help the results be as permanent as you want them to be.

Embroidered key fobs will stand out from the plain and generic key fobs. This will grab attention quickly, and anyone who notices your key fobs will be interested in exploring them further. This is an easy way to stand out as an agency. There are 17,985 police agencies in the United States. These include City Police Departments, County Sheriff’s Offices, State Police/Highway Patrol, and Federal Law Enforcement Agencies. Embroidered key fobs will help you stand out in a unique way. Read on to find out more benefits of embroidered key fobs for your agency.

High Utility Value

An embroidered key fob will keep your department well exposed in front of the community members. Unlike the traditional key fobs that were designed to carry keys only, embroidered key fobs made using a patch creator can bring together several tools that you can find useful in your daily life. Apart from that, embroidered key fobs are also quite easy to customize. Each officer and staff member can have their name embroidered on their own key fob. You can also put your department logo on it to help you stand out.

Effective Tokens of Corporate Identity and Branding

Key fobs can be used to display your department’s personality and corporate culture in an emphatic yet subtle manner. Each police agency needs to establish a brand. Brands in police agencies have both external and internal impacts. A properly developed brand will help engage current employees. It will also be quite useful in recruiting people who understand your agency’s mission, vision, and values. That way, applicants who are not a perfect fit will be turned away. Failure to do so might harm a forward-thinking agency.

Gather Agency Brand Momentum

As a brand, you will have your own momentum. As soon as you start moving forward, it will be difficult to alter your direction. Therefore, it is important for you to control your messaging and control what outsiders think and feel about your agency. An agency that doesn’t put effort into shaping its own brand allows outsiders and events to shape the way people perceive it. So, think about what you want citizens to know about you and create key fobs that support your statements.

When your agency and frontline officers internalize the promises inferred by your brand, you will be able to easily foster positive relationships with the community you serve. If you are interested in branding your agency using a patch creator to create embroidered key fobs, get in touch with us today. We can supply you with a patch creator that you can use to come up with your own embroidered designs.

Throughout the pandemic, as the world closed and people remained home for days or even weeks at a time, law enforcement, firefighters, and EMS continued to work to keep the public safe. Now that the US is slowly reopening, first responders are once again finding work return to normal. However, the threat of COVID-19 is not over. According to the CDC, a face mask should be worn by all people who are at least two years old to help reduce this threat. As a result, your first responder department can benefit from custom masks. Here’s why.

Safety

First and foremost, masks keep people safe. Due to the nature of the virus, someone could be sick with it and not even know. Face coverings protect you from other people who might have the virus, and they prevent you from spreading it to other people, even unknowingly. Since first responders work on a team, close proximity is a danger that can’t be avoided. Masks can help, and providing them to your teams is the first step in ensuring everyone remains as safe as possible.

Uniformity

Patches and badges are an important feature of first responder uniforms. They unite teams and help with easy identification. Custom face masks can work in the same way. With your department’s logo printed onto them, they become part of the uniform. Rather than detract from your agency’s look, customization allows you to add to it.

High-Quality

The main difference between custom face masks and regular old ones is quality. Even if standard masks can get the job done, custom ones can do it much better. Companies that customize masks use only the best materials. Double and triple layers ensure the masks are as effective as possible, and soft materials on the inside keep the wearer comfortable. These types of masks usually come with other features too, such as adjustable ear straps and shapes designed to better fit a face.

With custom face masks for your department, you just can’t go wrong. They will keep your first responders safe, comfortable, and uniform. When it comes to your agency, you only want the best, so be sure to consult with The Emblem Authority when you’re ready to get your masks made. It’ll be one of the best decisions you make.