Aptitude Test for Firefighters

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An aptitude test for fire fighters is an official physical test for the fire fighting recruitment and hiring process. It is recommended that all candidates should familiarize themselves with the firefighting aptitude test and understand the metabolic and the strength conditioning programs available to be properly prepared for the whole process. These tests came to life in the year 1997 when the international association of fire needed to make it the standardized and agreed physical testing process that should be used in recruiting candidates for fire services in many countries. The basis was that the candidates who were not able to achieve the agreed physical requirements should not be allowed to join the fire service industry. 


 Different standards based on averages such as the type of tasks and responsibilities the fire fighters were required to complete or the required average weight and height of the candidates, or the minimum gear and tools weight to be lifted and even the average weights of the patients that should be entering the various ER departments. These averages were used to set an average fire ground scenarios that the fire fighters are expected to handle in a given set minimum time. The aptitude test for fire fighters rules are straight forward since each step involved has a specific aspect to it that if not passed results to failing the test. Warnings though are issued all the time depending on which step you are and through the eight steps involved there is a set time to complete it. And that's when candidates fail, the results can not be termed as unfair under any conditions for this is a universally accepted. The tests commence with a candidate being loaded with a vest weighing 50lb. They are supposed to make their way to a stair climbing machine with an extra 25lbs on each shoulder.

 The second step is hose dragging which involves grabbing a nozzle on 200 feet and running 75 feet with it to a given drum and then turning 90 degree, running another 25 feet. Candidates are then required to get on one knee, dragging the hose until the first coupling, normally 50 feet and then finishing. The third step involves carrying equipments normally two saws around a cone and back again to the starting point. Step four involves raising a 24 foot ladder made of aluminum from a horizontal to a vertical position against a wall and then candidates are required to move to the side and then extend the fly section of the same or identical ladder to the limit and then lowering it back to the ground once more in a very controlled manner. Forcible entering which involves striking a 10lb sledge hammer against any mechanical measuring device is the fifth step. The sixth involves crawling through a very darkened, U shaped and 64 foot maze with many obstacles. Rescuing a 165lb dummy by dragging it back to the starting line is step seven and finally step eight involves breaching and pulling a ceiling using a pike in four complete sets with three repetitions. The aptitude test for fire fighters therefore is a necessary requirement in the recruitment of the fire fighters for proper handling of tragedies.