Continuing the trend of posting about stupid rules, how about socks? Can you get into trouble for wearing novelty socks? Apparently so if you're a paramedic for the North West Ambulance in the United Kingdom:
Uniformed staff have been barred from wearing socks with images of cartoon characters, jokes and garish patterns after bosses branded them "unprofessional".
The strict uniform policy, issued by North West Ambulance Service, also bans wrist watches, visible body piercing, excessive make-up and certain tattoos.
Staff have been warned they could be disciplined and ultimately even sacked if they flout the dress code which forms part of their terms of employment. However, the move have been condemned by critics who have dismissed the novelty sock ban as a step too far.
Link (Photo: ssoosay [Flickr])
What's your experience with stupid rules?
We are drilled to death in DRABC (with D being check for Danger)but if it is a dangerous situation requiring a CBR mask then we are not to proceed into the scene anyway.
Trainers tell us that we use the mask to get away if we detect a CBR insident, but that means that A) we have to have the mask with us already, B) the mask is already contaminated by then and C) if we detect it then we are already in it.
Apart from the socks, that's basically exactly the same dress code I have as a medical student.