So during the discussion about what’s appropriate on Facebook in the JEMS Connect Forum that I highlighted yesterday, there was this interesting posting:

Our Service Is Dealing With This Issue Now. Our New Policy Reads That You Can Not Identify Yourself As An Employee Nor Have Pictures Of Any Calls, Trucks, Etc…… Our Policy Is For All Online Networks Facebook, Myspace Etc….

Image via CrunchBase

As Far As Management Monitoring Our Public Safety Director Has A Facebook And My Training Officer Has A Myspace So If They See Infractions It Will Be Handled Per Policy, First Offense Verbal Warning, Second Offense Written Warning, Third Offense Can Be Up To Termination.

Really?

There are EMS Agencies that are so afraid of their own Patient Care Providers using Social Networks and creating Social Media that they have to enact a draconian policy such as this and follow it up with Gestapo tactics?

I wonder where they might have gotten this idea from…

Now I can understand parents going overboard with the monitoring… much to the chagrin I’m sure to their son… but how many EMS Agencies are protecting their Responders from The Tramp Named Jenny? For some reason, I think the answer to that question is none.

So EMS Chiefs, CEOs, Directors, Captains, Supervisors… do the right thing by your Responders… develop a Social Media Policy, educate them on the Social Media Do’s and Do Not’s for your agency, and above all remember you are probably funded in one way or another by the tax dollars of those who believe there should be liberty and freedom for all.

Do the right thing for yourself and learn how to use Social Media for your agency.

Related posts:

1. Social Media Policies For EMS Agencies
2. Responders Using Social Media On The Job
3. EMS Using Social Media In Action: LAFD
4. FDNY In Social Media = #FDNYFAIL
5. 5 Reasons Agencies Should Use Social Media Webinar Tomorrow

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.