A Few Considerations and Changes

• Jackets: I have heard your request for some sort of "fleece style" jacket similar to what the FD wears, to be approved for fall/winter wear. We have a few samples that are being shipped in for review. In the mean time, please remember that our current uniform policy is in effect.
• Cell Phones: You are already aware that cell phone usage while driving an ambulance is prohibited. In addition we are putting in place a policy on ring tones. While on duty your cell phone will be set to vibrate, silent or off. It is unprofessional, and distracting to be in the middle of a call and have, "help I’m stuck in your pocket" or be working a code when your phone starts playing, "knocking on heaven's door" or some other in-appropriate song. I know you understand the importance and appropriateness of this.
• Cell phone images: This topic has come under increasing scrutiny from across the US, that is cell phone pictures by rescue personnel. I understand that sometimes you are trying to show damage to a hospital, so I am reluctant to say NEVER, however they are showing up on my space web(hopefully not from MEMS personnel) and being shared in ways that are not appropriate, and may not be legal. It should be a rare exception that you would ever take a cell phone picture on scene, and if so it should only be for the purposes of documenting damage for a hospital, or official MEMS business etc... and will never be posted on the web with out permission from the Operations or Executive Director.