A badge is a distinctive emblem which marks an individual's office, membership or achievement. Today, we know badges mostly as the shields worn by police, firefighters and the military, but badges have been around since the Middle Ages. During that time, badges were popular as jewelry in Europe and were made of cloth or metal and worn on clothing.

Police officers, firefighters, security guards and emergency medical service providers deserve the highest-quality badges and insignia, and that’s exactly what Smith and Warren provides.

To the outsider, a badge may not seem like much – on the surface, it’s a piece of metal that’s affixed to a person’s uniform. But for public safety professionals, the badge is a great source of pride. It’s the most meaningful piece of the uniform, and it’s an inspiration for those men and women who go out and work hard to protect and serve their communities every day.

Dogs have been used in emergency services since the Middle Ages when law enforcement officers hunted down outlaws with bloodhounds, paid for by the villages they protected. Today, dogs have many jobs within the field of emergency services, including search & rescue, emergency management, patient care and criminal apprehension. Here are some of the most common breeds known within the field:

1. Great Fire of New York (1776)

On September 21, 1776, a fire broke out on the southern end of Manhattan. New York City was occupied by British forces at the time and many accused them of starting the fire, while others accused American Patriots of attempting to destroy the city in order to prevent the British from enjoying it. The fire burned throughout the night and destroyed approximately 20% of the city with somewhere between 400 and 1,000 buildings destroyed. No arson charges were ever laid, despite dozens of promising suspects.

Emergency services have a long, rich history dating back to ancient times. With such an extensive past, it's inevitable that the meaning of some commonly-used symbols would be unknown to many working in the field. Here is a brief summary of the most common emergency services symbols and their meanings:

For as long as humans have walked the Earth fire has been a threat to our safety and property, so it seems almost impossible to imagine a world where fire fighters don't exist. Amazingly, organized fire departments didn't come into being until the 18th Century.

Although the police are an ever-present force in our lives—providing protection, enforcing the law, preventing crime and maintaining order—the form they take today took hundreds of years to perfect. Nearly 400 years ago, the U.S police force as we know it was merely in its infancy. Policing in Europe, however has been around in some form since 3000 BC.

Emergency service workers and volunteers are no strangers to long nights, difficult calls, and the overall rigor their job requires. And while we can highlight the bravery and dedication these men and women exemplify to keep us safe, it is the friends and families of Emergency Service Personnel that understand the stresses this occupation truly holds.

With the rise of popularity in custom designed badges the term “Die” and “Tool” get’s used a lot, usually in terms of the initial setup costs. Frequently customers question these costs and are curious to know more about what these “dies and tools” are and how they are used in the manufacturing process.

Are you or someone you know expecting a baby in the next couple months? Chances are the answer to that question is yes! As there’s certainly quite a lot of excitement and joy surrounding the arrival of a new member of the family, why not remember it fondly with a unique keepsake?

The Smith & Warren ® novelty baby badge makes an excellent gift to commemorate this special occasion. The badge can be completely customized to include the baby’s name, birth date, weight, and even the time of birth.