EMS Pants – What are all those pockets for?

First responders need everything at the ready, with quick access to bandages, syringes, shears, gloves – even pens and penlights. Patients need immediate assistance with no time for EMS workers to run back and forth from the ambulance to the scene getting what they need. There’s no time to waste. But how do they keep it all together and handy?

In the early days – not that long ago, really – EMS workers had to carry everything in a backpack or carry bag. Uniform pants were not much more than modified dress pants or fireman’s pants with two front and two back pockets. The fabric was a little more durable than standard slacks, but not much. And they didn’t address the special needs of EMTs and paramedics, such as bending and kneeling over patients as they rendered assistance.

The next step in the EMS pants evolution was to take tactical pants designed for the military and law enforcement and try to make them work for the unique needs of a rescue worker. While this was a far better solution than the typical dress or uniform slacks alternative, it still wasn’t quite there. The pockets on tactical pants are set up better for holding spare magazines and other tactical gear at the ready. And while it’s true that pockets can be used to hold a variety of things, the positions on the legs can determine what they can hold and how easy they are to reach and open, especially important in critical situations. For law enforcement or the military, spare magazines, a knife, and other weapon-related gear need to be quickly accessible – all while safely handling the weapon itself one-handed. For EMS personnel, essentials like a rescue knife, seatbelt cutter, latex gloves, CPR face shield/mask, shears, and others have to be at the ready and placed in such a way that an EMT or paramedic can instinctively reach down into the right pocket in the right place and grab what they need, all while tending to the patient or holding other lifesaving equipment.

A quick look at today’s EMS personnel in the field shows the multitude of items EMTs and paramedics carry in their pockets: gloves, stethoscope, penlight, shears, rescue hooks, hand wipes, walkie-talkie, cell phone, Sharpies  – even breath mints! Clearly, EMS workers need pockets. And lots of them! With this knowledge in hand, apparel designers began to fill the void of the often-overlooked EMS category to create emergency-dedicated clothing that places pockets and access points exactly where emergency personnel need them.

EMS pants have become so specialized, in fact, that they often include purpose-dedicated pockets, such as the dual six-way cargo/scissor pockets at the thigh and besom pockets on the calves of Propper’s Critical Edge EMS Pant. And in many cases, they have upwards of 17 pockets, making the old tactical pants jealous.

Alongside the updates in pocket placement came an upgrade in materials, too. The days of the hot and sticky 100% polyester pants were numbered when manufacturers discovered the superior blend of polyester and cotton that gave the pants an added level of comfort that had been missing for so long, as well as extra breathability. They also solved the embarrassing problem of unsightly seam splitting by adding a gusseted crotch and reinforced the knees for increased durability. For extra-long life, many pants are now made out of ripstop material to prevent a small tear from becoming a big problem, some with Teflon fabric protector added to keep the pants clean and professional looking.

Today, emergency personnel can easily find pants that suit their unique needs, with the features they need to make life – and saving lives – easier.