Okay, so the other day I was thinking about getting a Star of Life patch. You know, that blue six-pointed star with the snake and staff in the middle? It’s pretty much the universal symbol for emergency medical services. I see it everywhere – on ambulances, medical kits, and even on the uniforms of EMTs and paramedics. It’s a cool symbol, and I wanted one for myself.
I started by doing a bit of digging online to learn more about its origins. Turns out, the American Medical Association (AMA) designed it way back in 1963. They wanted a universal symbol for medical identification, something that everyone would recognize. Later a guy named Leo R. Schwartz, who was the Chief of the EMS Branch at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), came up with the design we see today. It’s not just a random star, that snake and staff thing is actually called the Rod of Asclepius, which is a symbol for medicine and healing. The snake shedding its skin represents renewal, which is pretty fitting, right?
Anyways, after satisfying my curiosity about its history, I went ahead and looked for places to buy a patch. I found a bunch of online stores, but the quality varied a lot. Some looked really cheap and poorly made, while others were much nicer but also more expensive.
Finding the Right Patch
After browsing through a bunch of options, I finally settled on a patch from a small online retailer specializing in emergency services gear. It had good reviews, and the patch looked well-made. They have some options of material, like PVC, embroidered, or reflective. I chose the embroidered one. It cost a bit more than some of the others, but I figured it was worth it for a better-quality patch.
Getting the Patch
- Ordering: I placed the order on their website, which was pretty straightforward. They had a secure checkout process, and I paid with my credit card.
- Shipping: The patch shipped out the next day, and I received a tracking number via email.
- Delivery: It arrived in the mail about a week later. It was packaged in a small padded envelope, which kept it safe during transit.
The Patch Itself
When I opened the package, I was really happy with the patch. It’s about 3 inches in diameter, which is a good size. It’s not too big or too small. The stitching is really well done, and the colors are bright and vibrant. The blue of the star is a nice, deep shade, and the white of the snake and staff really stands out against it. The details on the snake and staff are also very precise. You can clearly see the scales on the snake and the texture of the staff. And the best part is that it has a hook-and-loop backing, so I can easily attach it to my backpack or jacket without having to sew it on.
Overall, I’m super stoked with my new Star of Life patch. It’s a cool symbol with a rich history, and it’s a great way to show my support for emergency medical services. Plus, it looks pretty awesome on my backpack!
