The Top 15 Best EMS Boots for EMTs and Paramedics as Chosen by a Veteran EMT.

1. EMS duty boots must be compliant with foot protection standards.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires under Regulation 1910.136 that employers provide protective footwear for personnel who work in establishments or areas where there is a likelihood of foot injuries that can happen in places where their lower extremities are significantly exposed to hazards. For instance, stepping on a needle. Will your boot protect your feet from punctures?

Although OSHA sets safety rules, it is the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) that sets the standards.

ASTM standard (F2413-05) refers to the minimum requirements for the design, testing, performance, and classification after having passed the first requirements of impact and compression resistance of the footwear.

Impact test – EMS boots should need to meet either 50 or 75 testing criteria, this is measured by dropping a weight from a predetermined height at a specified speed on top of the toe cap.

• I/50 will shield your toes from impacts of up to 50-foot pounds while
• I/75 rating will likewise protect the toes from impacts of up to 75-foot pounds.

Compression test – the boots must satisfy one of two criteria for compression rating, by applying a measured load up to the specified number of pounds needed to cause the toe cap starts to crush or break.

• C/50 rating will protect the toes from a maximum of 1750-pound compressive loads
• C/75 rating protects the toes from a maximum of 2500-pound loads.

2. EMS work boots must protect the EMT from job hazards.

Protective footwear comes either as steel-toed or with a composite toe cap. Either way, these “shields” are designed to keep toes safe.

EMS boots should keep feet safe. Look for boots that comply with the above compression and impact tests. Make sure the sole is sturdy, many come with a hard plastic plate on the bottom. Boots should be waterproof and slip-resistant. The treads should have a good grip on many different surfaces.

EMTs and Paramedics will encounter these common job hazards.

• Adverse Weather Conditions.
• Hazardous Materials on medical scenes, such as sharp metal, broken glass, chemical substances.
• Exposure to biohazards like blood, vomit, and feces.

Think about all the places an EMT or Paramedic will have to walk. All of that environment the boots are exposed to. A good pair of boots, along with gloves, are a medical responder’s first line of defense in the field.

3. They must be well-fitting.

Be sure that boots fit correctly. Buying the wrong size of boots will negatively impact the job performance of emergency personnel. Before purchasing a pair of boots, be sure to know your size as well if you need regular or wide-fitting boots. Side Zippers are a huge benefit as they allow EMS providers to get in and out of boots quickly.

For example, a crew is stationed at a station (IE a firefighter). Having Side Zip boots allows them to remove the boot with ease and put them back on when the need arises and the responder has to get out the door.

4. The boots must be comfortable.

EMS personnel tend to work long shifts. 12 or 24 hours is a long time to spend in a pair of boots. It is important to get materials that breathe. Look for boots that are made from waterproof materials like Gore-Tex or some other advanced material. All leather boots are not recommended, as there is little airflow and this can result in blisters.

5. Look for reputable brands.

Brand name boots typically are of better quality. They have the market research and resources to ensure that the product being produced is not only quality but complies with safety standards. Brand name companies usually offer replacement programs for defective products.