Paramedics carry out life-saving procedures on a daily basis as part of their career, and they wouldn't be able to do this optimally without the full use of their hands. From carrying out CPR to lifting people or items, providing injections and numerous other areas, paramedics need full ambulatory use of their hands while responding to 911 and other emergency calls.

At Enso Rings, we're proud to offer a wide range of silicone rings that are perfect for paramedics and other first responders who use their hands. Our Ultralite silicone ring collection, for instance, features lightweight and comfortable ring options that are so high-quality, you often won't even notice they're sitting on your finger -- making them perfect for those who want to wear a ring regularly, but cannot have the ring interrupting their tactile needs on the job. What are some of the roles that paramedics carry out that make a comfortable ring such a priority? Here are a few, plus the qualities of silicone rings that make them perfect for the job.

Paramedic Roles Involving the Hands

Paramedics may have to use their hands on the job for a number of different reasons,
including all of the following:

• Wound care: Paramedics must often assess and treat wounds, and this requires the use
  of their hands in every case. Wounds can range from minor to severe in nature, but a paramedic's hands will need to be able to treat them properly in every case.

• Administering CPR: Paramedics may have to perform chest compressions on people who have stopped breathing or are experiencing cardiac arrest. In this situation, paramedics must use their full body weight when compressing the patient -- making a silicone ring ideal for this role, as there is no chance of a metal ring or stone pressing into the patient's skin and causing pain.

• Lifting: Paramedics must often lift people or items in order to complete their job, and this might happen when the ambulance is rushing to reach a hospital -- for example, if an orthopedic injury has taken place at a construction site. A silicone ring won't weigh down the paramedic's hand or cause any discomfort, plus won't risk getting caught while lifting or lowering any heavy item.

• Administering an injection: If someone is experiencing severe pain, paramedics must give them the correct medication to treat them -- which means an injection with their full hand strength applied. Administrations like these are some of the most common uses for paramedic hands on the job, and silicone rings make injections easier to carry out without the risk of a needle sliding across a heavy metal ring.

• Making radio or phone calls: If a situation's been deemed serious enough to require the paramedic to call for backup or medical authority, they may have to make a phone call. In this scenario, a silicone ring will be ideal because it won't snag on anything and make the process harder than it needs to be -- plus, it won't cause any discomfort while speaking with colleagues. Paramedics must be able to relay information clear enough for other responders to understand, which is why the use of a silicone ring will provide them with greater clarity.

Problems With Traditional Metal Rings

As you may have already guessed while reading the above rundown of paramedic roles, traditional metal rings often serve as obstacles to some of the tasks they have to perform. Here are a couple:

• Glove discomfort: Paramedics often have to wear gloves on the job to prevent contaminating an injured person or themselves, but this can lead to discomfort when traditional rings are worn. Metal rings are often too heavy for gloves to feel comfortable on the fingers, which is why many paramedics wear silicone rings instead since they're light enough not to cause pain.

• Snagging risks: In some fast-moving situations, a metal ring may snag or become caught on something while the paramedic's carrying out their work. If this happens, they may be forced to abandon their role in order to remove it -- which can delay responses and put lives at risk if done too often. Silicone rings are designed with smooth curves that won't snag on any item, so paramedics can focus on their job without being distracted by a ring -- and if a ring does snag, rather than risking major injury to the paramedic with a metal ring, silicone rings will break off to avoid this.

Value of Silicone Rings for Paramedics

And down related lines, paramedics often prefer silicone rings as alternatives to metal
rings for a few reasons:

• Hypoallergenic: Many people develop skin allergies to some types of metal, but silicone is hypoallergenic and will not bother anyone's skin.

• Lightweight: Another major perk of opting for a silicone ring instead of a metal one is how lightweight it'll feel on the paramedic's finger. Metal rings are often too heavy to wear comfortably, whereas silicone rings are designed to mimic their metal counterparts without any of the risks.

• Non-permeable: Traditional metal rings aren't watertight, but silicone rings are non-permeable and won't absorb any moisture or sweat -- nor will they corrode over time like some metals might.

• Comfortable and snug: Silicone rings also fit snugly on your finger, meaning there's no risk of sliding off or snagging on anything while paramedics are carrying out their roles -- and since they're designed with a tight fit, it means there's no risk of your finger slipping through the gap like can happen with some metal rings.

For more on why paramedics are often drawn to the qualities of silicone rings for their daily use, or to learn about any of our silicone ring collections or products, speak to the staff at Enso Rings today.