As much as we all might prefer jeans and T-shirts, there are times when dressing up is simply necessary. When you're meeting the public at a special event or lobbying a lawmaker who might steer precious dollars your way, you'll need to make an impression that conveys your strength, professionalism and essential role in your community. A business suit is nice, but doesn't identify you as part of the vital emergency-services triad.

     What EMS really needs, some leaders of the National Association of EMTs decided a few years back, is a proper Class A dress uniform. Led by then-president John Roquemore, those leaders turned to Seattle-based Lighthouse Uniform Company to create one.

     The NAEMT brass "recognized that they didn't have the ability to dress up," recalls Lighthouse President Steve Cohen. "The EMS world had come of age, and their perceptions of themselves changed. They weren't just ambulance drivers anymore; they were prehospital care providers. And with that perception, they felt like they belonged at the head table alongside police and fire."

     And that meant looking the part. So what Lighthouse developed was a classic black six-button, double-breasted, tropical worsted wool blend uniform. Blue-piped shoulder straps, gold EMS buttons, certification sleeve striping and Star of Life longevity markers provide a unique EMS identity, and a black Navy-style dress cap with a Star of Life insignia and 9/11 commemorative chinstrap tops things off.

     "We wanted to create instant tradition, which led us to the black double-breasted jacket," says Cohen. "There's a lot of tradition attached to this look. And it's pretty forgiving in terms of fit, which is important considering the EMS world has a large number of female providers spanning a range of sizes and shapes. Men who provide their height, weight and suit size can typically be fit comfortably by mail, but it's a bit trickier with the ladies."

     To meet that challenge, Lighthouse, with design expertise from Oklahoma paramedic Jenalu Simpson, developed a "fit kit" that includes a pant/skirt pattern, fabric, lining, a zipper and a button. This allows ladies not wanting to wear modified men's pants the option of making (or having made) their own skirt or trousers.

     Another important aspect was the choice of color and fabric. Lighthouse chose its blend for durability and breathability; it's the same fabric used by the U.S. Navy for its summer-weight dress uniform. And black allows for easy matching if a damaged or outgrown piece should ever have to be replaced.

     "The ability to match color over time is essential," says Cohen. "A lot of people will grow out of their trousers before they grow out of their coats. Our customers need only remember where they bought their uniform to be able to pick up a pair of pants that matches their coat. That's not as simple as it sounds; you could almost never do this with navy-blue fabrics."

     The uniform can also be easily converted to an Honor Guard model by way of a blue/black trouser and sleeve stripe program tied together with shoulder cords in combinations of blue and gold.

     For more information, see www.lighthouseuniform.com.