CERT teams all over the country are acquiring safety vests, often at generous prices, and generally in green, with a CERT logo. Here are a couple of examples: R&B , DMS,

and Wholesale First Aid Supply and GSS.

What these garments have in common – excessive price aside, is that they’re forest green, and employ little, if any conspicuity (reflective) materials. The green CERT vests  don’t, for instance, remotely comply with the ANSI Class III standard: visible, 360 degrees at 1,000 (I think, in fact, the rule calls for 1,250 feet), in low-light, poor-visibility. That’s about as much time as a driver, driving 30 miles an hour, would have to stop if he or she noticed the person at 1,250 feet. (That is, a driving, in a crisis, foulweather, at thirty miles an hour, has about thirty seconds to stop).

Some of these vendors do sell ANSI-III compliant vests, at reasonable prices. But few of them have any pockets at all – those that do have very few pockets. None seem adjustable so as to be usable in cold weather (over many other layers) or hot to be worn over summer clothing, and comply with the ANSI visibility standard, and be useful for securely carrying the gear which CERT or SAR team members should and will have: radios, batteries, food, hand tools, etc.

There’s the way in which the forest green vest constitute bad advice: in a chaotic situation – why would we be assuming that amidst a power failure or flood, CERT members aren’t going to be walking around, running messages, and even directing traffic.

Apart from the direct virtues of wearing vests: (visibility and the consequent reduction of accidents, carrying tools, and in some cases, of course, flotation and insulation) they’re also useful for keeping track of team members – they’re also useful for inspiring confidence in the public in an emergency. Since CERT teams are often self-financed, the vest may be the only “uniform” component. They should also convey confidence and functionality because – as generals have known for hundreds, if not thousands of years – the “uniform,” whatever that is, can be a recruitment tool (“I want to wear one of those”) or an obstacle to recruitment (“This CERT thing’s a great idea, but I really don’t want to wear that, especially if anyone I know is anywhere around”), especially among younger prospects. (I’m a member of a CERT in which the average age of members is in my view, somewhat higher than one would like. Put another way, we’re not turning away lots of 20- and 30- somethings who spend a lot of time in the gym.

So wouldn’t we prefer that CERT members will have, train in, and, in emergencies, wear highly visible, ANSI compliant, sturdy, flattering cargo-carrying vests. And affordable – did I mention that?

At the other end of the market are well-designed and manufactured SAR vests, like the Robert Rutter vest now manufactured by CMC rescue. This vest commands the dramatic sum of $369. It’s my understanding that CMC’s own manufactured gear is excellent. Price saide, however, wouldn’t it make more sense for search-and-rescue workers to wear vests (generally the outermost garment) in a color other than black and olive drab? We’re considering the possibility of purchasing these and adding reflexite or other prismatic  reflective panels – but the price – in excess of the cost of a new 16-channel 5-watt radio – seems very high.

The search for an optimal CERT vest continues. Popular Logistics would like to hear from any of you that might help us, and our other readers, who are responsible for procurement for CERT’s, SAR,s and similar groups.