Color-Coded Vest and Color Psychology

Color psychology plays a powerful force in all of our lives. We examined the effect on specific colors and how these colors affect people's responses during disaster situations. The CBRNE disasters are much more complex since these incidents involve numerous emergency response groups from various jurisdictions. When people get disorientated, they cannot recognize and identify emergency groups as Who's Who in the vicinity to get the help they need unless first responders are identifiable.

Law Enforcement

Black/Silver Checkered

For first responders black checkered vest is chosen. Black color represents power, security, authority, and capability to control the situation. During catastrophic events, law enforcement personnel face various hazardous challenges where they need to be in control to protect themselves, to protect the public.

Fire and Rescue

Red/Silver Checkered

The Fire and Rescue apparel is with red and silver checkered reflective material. The color red is a prominently visible color that often associates with emergencies and is commonly used by emergency vehicles. This color is warm, vibrant, and intense and grabs immediate attention, which has a long history related to fire and rescue.

Medical and Paramedics

Blue/Silver Checkered

The Medical vest is Blue and Silver checkered. This color is associated with inspiration, sadness, calming, and care. Generally, the blue color is used by medics, hospitals, and paramedics. They can show their calm feelings, cleanliness, strength, and willingness to assist patients and casualties who need help. Blue is the favorite color for all people.

Military Commanders

Gray/ Green Checkered

The green color is associated with nature, also the color for military uniforms for many decades. Therefore, for military use, the two systems were designed. The gray color background with green color checkered in the center for military commanders, yellow color background with green checkered in the center for the military officers.

Military/National Guard

Gray/Green Checkered

Military personnel should be distinguishable from other workers and the general public. These exceptions will provide soldiers to engage in their duties safely and effectively during disasters. The military person is required to use reflective vests and belts for their physical training to operate terrain vehicles. Today, the military belt is referred to as "The Reflective Belt Wars".

Sheriff Services

Black/Silver Checkered

Border Service

Black/Silver Checkered

The CBRNE Strategy Plan identified that the border service personnel play a key role in protecting and preventing criminal activities at the border, which involve enforcing some of the federal and local laws that law enforcement have, the right to execute. Therefore it is essential for border service officers to have the same black checkered vest as law enforcement.

Biological and Radiological

Silver/Blue center Biological Sign

To respond to a release of biological or chemical agents against a population is the responsibility of first responders. However, dealing with such events cannot be carried out without highly qualified chemical and biological emergency response groups. During these situations, emergency groups should be distinctively identified as who's who at the incident area.

Nuclear Vest

Gray/Yellow with Nuclear Symbol

CBRNE Strategy Plan recommends it is critical to ensure that emergency personnel responding to nuclear incidents wear the right apparel that they can respond quickly to save lives. To achieve this objective we developed a white garment with a checkered reflective design with the nuclear symbol.

Special Forces 1

Special forces normally used darker clothing rather than the yellow vest. Because they need to show their extream power to take control of the situation. To maintain this representation, we developed a black vest with gray/black checkered for special forces..

Special Forces 2

In addition to the black vest, we also developed the brown vest with black checkered for special forces to match their tactical uniforms. The brown vest is used for law enforcement special forces. This vest is only used for identification purposes and not for tactical purposes.

Bylaw Officers HiVis Vest

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, bylaw officers play a vital role in enforcing various laws due to Covid -19. In 2020 the government of BC gave bylaw officers more powers to the greatest extent possible. They can act without unduly compromising any bylaw objectives while enforcing public health orders. Now bylaw officers are also involved in emergency management activities than before, mainly by direct encounters with the public. Therefore, they should be distinctively identified same as first responders.