FinnHEMS workwear updated for today's needs

FinnHEMS is a Finnish state-owned company with a special assignment to provide helicopter emergency medical services. Working in close cooperation with Finland’s wellbeing services counties, FinnHEMS delivers urgent pre-hospital care and patient transfers when every minute counts. FinnHEMS operates eight doctor helicopter bases across Finland, located in Vantaa, Turku, Tampere, Seinäjoki, Kouvola, Kuopio, Oulu and Rovaniemi.

The helicopters and their crews are on standby around the clock. Units are dispatched by the emergency response centre following a risk assessment, and once alerted, the helicopter typically reaches the scene within 10–30 minutes. On average, help arrives in less than 15 minutes. Each crew consists of an emergency physician, a HEMS paramedic or HEMS rescue specialist, and a pilot. Patients are usually transported to hospital by an ambulance dispatched to the scene.

Workwear renewal launched after organisational reform

The workwear renewal project was launched in early 2023 following an organisational reform at FinnHEMS. "The reform created a clear need to update and modernise our staff workwear to meet today's requirements," says Marko Sorsa, HCM Manager at FinnHEMS.

Image Wear was selected as the workwear supplier through a public procurement process. The process began with a market survey, followed by a market dialogue with potential suppliers. The procurement was carried out using a negotiated procedure, where the workwear already had defined mandatory requirements. After the negotiation phase, the final criteria for the tender were set. Image Wear was selected based on a scoring model in which quality and price were well balanced.

Improved functionality and a refreshed look

The workwear renewal was based on the previous collection, but the aim was to develop it to meet the practical needs of today's demanding work environment. The collection was modernised, and, alongside the traditional coverall, a two-piece option consisting of a jacket and trousers was introduced. A dedicated women's trouser model was also developed.

On sunny summer days, temperatures inside a helicopter can rise to as high as 60°C, making a one-piece coverall less than ideal. To improve thermal comfort, ventilation openings were added to the garments.

In addition to cooling features, several other functional improvements were made. Integrated knee pads and increased stretch enhance comfort and ease of movement during demanding tasks. The colour of the workwear was changed from green to red to ensure better visibility n field conditions.

User feedback gathered during real-life test use

Testing played a key role in the renewal process. "The garments were not tested sitting areound a meeting table -  they were already in real operational use during the trial phase," says Tuukka Toivonen, Development Specialist at FinnHEMS, and continues: "Working with Image Wear has gone very smoothly. We received a great deal of support already during the design phase, particularly with various technical details and solutions."

From Image Wear's perspective, the collaboration has also been highly successful. Already during the market dialogue stage, a clear understanding was formed of the client's needs and the demanding requirements of field work. Communication throughout the project was open and efficient, and the wishes and expertise of both parties were carefully considered The result is a workwear collection that is perfectly tailored to FinnHEMS' needs. It is a privilege to work in partnership with an organisation that plays such a vital role in society.