Fire Tunics for University Johannesburg Ndip EMC

It was a combination between a sad story and a memory that will keep paramedics safe not just in mind, but physically as well. ER24, Cell C and Medi-Clinic sponsored a total of 16 Fire Tunics to National Diploma Paramedic Students of the University of Johannesburg.

The word tunic comes from the latin word tunica and it was the common masculine garment of the Greco-Roman civilisation. In Ancient Greece, a person's tunic was decorated with various colours and was used to identify the person in the city he lived in or the rank he assumed.

In modern days the tunic has adapted many forms. One such form is the Fire Tunic which Firemen and Paramedics wear to keep them safe during hazardous rescue operations.

Late Albie Greyling (1981/02/24 - 2007/02/02) saw the need for tunics for him and his classmates. Albie was a final year paramedic student at the University of Johannesburg when he approached Medi-Clinic for a possible sponsorship of jackets for the final year students. On the 2nd of February 2007, Albie was murdered by alleged robbers outside his mother's home in Pretoria. It is believed that he walked in on a house robbery that went horribly wrong.

Being a student, it is difficult to fund a tunic of such a high standard yourself. One jacket ranges between three and five thousand rands, depending on the intended use of the jacket and sometimes rank.

Medi-Clinic agreed to a joint sponsorship between ER24 and Cell C. A week before Albie's death, the sponsorship was approved. Role players tried to get hold of Albie to convey the good news, only to receive bad news in return.

Albie's death sent shock waves through the EMS community and fellow classmates.

The sponsorship was turned into a tribute to Albie. On June the 22nd, 16 Anti-hazardous Fire Tunics was handed over to the final year paramedic students. As tradition holds, the jackets were handed over at a ceremony held at the head office of ER24. Each Fire Tunic has the name and rank of the student embroided on the chest along with the University's logo on the opposite side.

Paramedics are mere instruments of God. Our hands and arms are instruments, therefore you will find Albie Greyling (1981/02/24 - 2007/02/02) embroided on the right sleeve of the Fire Tunic.

We trust that each tunic will be put to excellent use and will reflect the bond that the EMS (Emergency Medical Service) family has.

(NOTE: Not all of the students are featured in this photo.)