WMU works with Stryker to design Medical personel shoe/boot

[MC_Skibadee83]

all medical personnel are invited to discuss new possibilities for a shoe concept. Students from Western Michigan University are teaming with Stryker Medical to redesign a shoe/boot for all medical personnel including EMT's. Our goal is to design a shoe around making ones job easier and or safer. Any ideas pertaining to this basic idea would be of great help, and would only be helping your feet out in the long run.

[Michael]

helping your feet out in the long run.

Shouldn't that be for the long run? And size 18 is scary, but I guess it takes all kinds.

[Dustdevil]

size=18

:shock:

The "cool factor" is more important than any other concerns. Wankers won't wear it if it doesn't look cool.

Obviously, it must have an ANSI certified safety toe, preferably not metallic.

Must have a non-porous surface that will not hold fluids and is easily washed off.

Must both breathe and be waterproof.

Must have a sole that grips well on every conceivable surface or terrain, including ice, without the tread mucking up with debris, and without squeaking or leaving black scuff marks on the ambulance floor.

Must be as light, flexible, and comfortable as a canvas tennis shoe.

Must have an intrinsic anti-fungal and anti-bacterial, odour eating interior lining and insole.

Ankle support is greatly overrated in injury prevention, so unless you have something absolutely revolutionary in that respect, I wouldn't get too caught up in that.

[payedinsingles]

non metalic toe and shank for sure. zippered for sure. and a place to stash sheers would be kinda cool...

[Timmy]

Gel Shoes!!! There soooooo comftable.

[Firejeep3]

The best boot would be:

Light weight

Zipper/ Non metalic

Rated safety toe/ Non metalic

Shank/ Non metalic

Scuff resistant toe/ Rubber covered like some fire boots

Tread/ as mentioned in other post

Easily Decontaminated/ Resistant to strong chemicals- its strong it will kill anything metality

Shiny/ for the anal ones out there

Finally COST

I hope they have better luck than most of the major manufactures. You can get a couple of traits in most boots but not all of them in one, at least for the looking I have done.

[Lucky~13]

Also, try and make them look like dress shoes as much as possible. Hiking boots just don't look very professional.

[paramedicmike]

I agree with the above except for this statement:

Also, try and make them look like dress shoes as much as possible. Hiking boots just don't look very professional.

I'll agree that traditional hiking boots aren't very professional for most urban/suburban jobs. But dress shoes are for just that, suits and ties. Unless you wear a tie with your uniform, which I would hope you don't, then you don't need dress shoes or ones that resemble dress shoes. Besides, with the abuse work shoes/boots take they wouldn't last very long.

Definitely no dress shoes. (Nothing personal Lucky 13)

-be safe.

[Dustdevil]

I'll go halfway with Lucky and Mike.

The definitely should not look like combat boots or bunker boots, but something in-between that extreme and dress shoes would be nice. Of course, ideally, something that looked like dress shoes would meet all of the above requirements, and that would be fine. I MUCH prefer wearing a low-quarter shoe to boots. But I also hate walking in shoes full of mud or rain for 12 hours too because they were cut so low. In civilian EMS, I find myself compromising with the hiking boot height shoes which appear much like shoes, but go up to the ankle, instead of under the malleoli.

BTW, Lucky~13, it's good to see you back!

[SSG G-man]

I like boot style. Maybe it is because we are in a predominantly rural area. Maybe it is because I wear them everyday for the military and feel comfortable in them. I like an 8" boot. I have never used side zippers. The boots I currently use are military boots with lace in zippers added. I do not think they need to be like dress shoes, but if the have leather outers like combat boots, they can be shined to be worthy of wearing with a dressier uniform. I love the new boots the army is issuing made by bellvile. COMFORTABLE. These are suede, but put this sole with a leather upper and I would be a happy camper!!

Sarge