Illawarra paramedic Trent McLennan says wearing his uniform in heatwave conditions is ‘’like wearing a plastic bag’’.
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The Australian Paramedics Association (APA) NSW delegate is furious that he and his colleagues are being forced to spend another summer in the hot polyester uniforms.
Mr McLennan said the union had been campaigning for shirts in a more breathable fabric for more than 12 months on behalf of its members.
‘’The polyester button-up shirt we are supplied with doesn’t breathe and paramedics are getting overheated and dehydrated,’’ he said.
‘’We’d prefer cooler polo shirts, like those worn by NSW Police and the Victorian Ambulance Service which are much better quality and have been designed for the Australian climate.
‘’Paramedics have got to the point where they are modifying their uniforms – attaching their badges to different shirts that breathe better, just to cope with the heat.’’
South Coast paramedic, and APA NSW vice-president, Glenn Congram said NSW Ambulance had been ordered by the Industrial Relations Commission to come up with a more suitable uniform earlier this year – however the new shirts wouldn’t be available until winter.
‘’Our officers are in dire straits at times – for instance today I’m in Ulladulla and it’s 33 degrees with high humidity,’’ he said.
‘’I’m wearing one of these shirts and was attending to a patient in their home and the amount of sweat pouring off me was phenomenal.
‘’When you continually sweat like that it has a fatiguing affect. And we’ve been told the new uniforms won’t be available in this region until May.’’
Even then, Mr Congram said paramedics were not confident the new uniform would be much better as it had been trialled in winter. Plus, paramedics would only be issued with two shirts, despite many working rosters of up to eight days running.
A NSW Ambulance spokesman said the rollout of the new uniform followed a collaborative process between NSW Ambulance, paramedics and unions.
He maintained that the new fabric had been tested in heatwave conditions.
‘’Following a lengthy and successful trial the new shirts will look the same, but provide more breathability,’’ he said.
The spokesman confirmed that shirts had been ordered and would be distributed statewide as quickly as possible, the first 5000 from January.
‘’Paramedics will initially be allocated two shirts, with the full rollout of four work shirts per operational staff member delivered as soon as they are manufactured.’’