Do you have the right equipment?

Those of us in the Law Enforcement/Corrections community face a multitude of challenges every single day. Some we can control, others we don't. One thing that we can control is the equipment/gear that we utilize every day. Depending on the job at hand, do we have the right equipment/gear to do our job proficiently and efficiently??

What do you think that you need? Well, if you work on your feet all day you may want a good pair of boots that are comfortable. If you work nights or in low light areas, a flashlight is a must! How about gloves? Don't we go searching around in places that most people would not want to put their hands in, or on? After a while we know that we need to replace them since we use them that often. However, I am never surprised at the amount of officers that either seldom replace their gear, or just don't want to buy it in the first place.

Our safety must be first and foremost. If we don't take that into consideration, how can we protect the public and fulfill our primary mission??

Don't wait until it is too late to do what you know is right...

Your Feet Said What???

While working in a correctional facility there is nothing worse than getting home at the end of the day and your feet are screaming at you to get off of them. Working all day on concrete floors while on your feet for 8-16 hours takes a toll on you, not only your feet but also your knees and back. Add to that all the gear that you wear around your waist and it then becomes a chiropractor's dream. I know many officers that have visited a chiropractor at some point in their career. Some of these officers even have them on speed dial and even know their children's names.

Ask around and the officers that rarely, if ever, have sought treatment for back problems will tell you the same thing: invest in a good pair of boots. Regardless of where you purchase them, cost is sometimes, if not always, a factor in our decision of what to buy. There are many manufacturers of good, quality footwear and of course, prices vary. The footwear can range from $40-$110+ depending on the manufacturer and the quality of the boot. Think about it this way: Would you rather spend $1,500 on a used vehicle and then pay $6,000 or more to your local mechanic during the remaining life of the car, or pay $12,000 and not have to worry about repair costs for quite a few years with proper maintenance?

I completely understand that sometimes we can afford to drop $80-$110 on a pair of boots (especially with what we get paid these days) but I rationalized it to myself this way: I can spend $80 on the boots or I can spend $40 on the boots and then all the costs associated with going to the chiropractor and/or Primary Care Physician as a result of the pain? I chose the former. If there is no way that you can afford the cost for the new boots at this time, there are still things that you can do. These can include buying some gel inserts ($6-$10) from your local discount store (they work great!) all the way to being extremely nice to your spouse and hope you get a foot rub at some point.

The best advice that I can give you is the following:

1. Ask around your facility/work area and see what boots fellow coworkers recommend.
2. Figure out your budget and invest in a good pair of boots early on once you can afford it.

 If you take care of your feet, they are bound to take care of you (no matter how ugly they are).