Fire Department Patches

Fire department hasn't been the way it is in the past. What started as volunteer free community work has grown into a fully organized and paid job. It exists in every city with the same responsibilities and commitments it held long when it was started. The modern fire fighters wore uniforms with fire department patches signifying their department with logos of the country or county. The symbol of fire department patches has the same meaning for every department, which is to protect with courage. The wearer of the fire department patches are people who are committed to serve the community through quick response and efficient teamwork. Fire department patches are usually red with yellow outlines. The symbols on the fire department patches depict fire and some of the tools used by firemen such as safety helmets, ladders, horns, axe and the fire hydrant. The design enhances the uniform and at the same time gives the wearer great pride in the job they do.

Designs of the fire department patches are usually done according to the budget of the department with a special portrayal of the departments' image. It is large, visible and done on uniforms, casual shirts, jackets and caps. Fire department has long been associated with emergency medical system. Thus other than fire department patches, trained personnel for emergency medical system will be adorned with the EMS patches too. EMS training widen the scope of a fire department personnel from putting out fire and rescue work to providing basic or advance life support in order to increase survival rate. Most fire departments are also required to provide certificate of fitness for occupancy of buildings. Other community services include training in schools and organizations, plus recruitment of volunteers. All volunteers for fire and rescue will also be given a special fire department patches which will be slightly different in design.

The advancement of technology has allowed the mass production of patches for a lower price than it used to cost in the past. Machines have taken over most of the jobs from human workers. Computerized systems can make sewing with higher accuracy and speed. This has enabled the designs of more complicated and fancy fire department patches that were impossible to design back then.

Fire department patches contains logos with a historical meaning to it, and this logo is found on the uniforms of firemen all over the world. The main central structure is mostly the Maltese cross. This is linked to the concept of honour and courage to sacrifice ones life for the sake of fellow men. Hundreds of years ago, the Knights of St. John fought the Saracens for possession of the Holy Land. Saracens used to throw naphta and flaming torches to burn the knights alive. The courageous knights would risk their life the put out the fire to save their fellow troops. In return, they were honored with the award of a badge of honour which looks like the cross depicted on the Fire Department patches today. The cross is called a Maltese cross in remembrance of the Knights of St. John which originated from the small island of Malta in the center of Mediterranean Sea.

Another common symbol on the fire department patches is the horn. In the beginning, the fire fighting teams were made up of common groups of people on night watch from 9pm to sunrise. To warn the community on the danger of fire, they sounded alarms using horns or loud bells. The loud noise served to warn women and children to evacuate while the men were required to help with putting out the fire and helping with rescue works. Today, the fire department patches still depicts a horn even though the fire engines are equipped with modern sirens and lightings.

On the whole the fire department patches makes the wearer and the public aware of the commitment to protect the public. The improvement in technology, working conditions and communication has made it much safer to be a proud wearer of the fire department patches. The main responsibility of the wearer of fire department patches never deviate from their original objectives, which are to protect and reduce loss of lives and materials.