Becoming a Fire Fighter
Jan 2nd, 2010Being a firefighter is something to be proud of. The job is rewarding, and it helps a lot of people. They give back to the community the blessing they have. Firefighters are the ones who stop raging fires and rescue those in danger. Not only that, they are also the ones who teach people about fire prevention. It’s no wonder why young children look up to them and want to like them.
However, the job of a firefighter is not that easy. They have the very important task of seeing to the welfare of others. That’s why there are a few requirements before a person can become a real firefighter.
First of all, they should be of legal age, which is 18. A high school diploma is also needed. These are general rules, but it actually depends on the fire department and state being applied on. While being extremely smart isn’t necessary to be successful in this field, being healthy and fit is a must. The process is a long one, and lots of examinations are needed to pass.
There is a medical check-up, written and psychological examination, an oral interview, and the hardest is the physical examination.
Before anything else, a check-up is required. This can be the easiest or hardest test you will meet along the way, depending on the condition you’re in. There is a drug test, which is no joke for the fire departments. Failing this, no matter how good you are, won’t mean anything to them. Also, having a clear eyesight and hearing is an advantage. But the test is thorough, so even the heart, lungs, and blood pressure will be checked.
Usually, the next exam would be the written one. It isn’t very hard, as long as you are prepared. This is similar to a college entrance exam; you have to study for it. The test is consisted of multiple choice problems. The topics are math, reasoning and spelling, among others. However, passing this doesn’t mean the rest is easy.
The truth is many applicants fail the psych exam. They just don’t have the mind and heart to do the work well. A good firefighter must have the personality to go with it. Sociable, calm, and decisive are only three of the qualities one must show. How can they act upon an emergency when they can’t make sense of the situation? And since firefighting requires teamwork, a person has to get along not only with his superior, but with his peers as well.
The oral interview is just similar to a job interview. They ask the applicants questions to get to know them better. Questions are usually put into scenarios and answering them to the best of abilities is needed. The interview can be a pass or fail one, no grading. This isn’t always the case, though. Also, other departments require an interview first before an applicant can proceed to the latter exams. So this is really very important.
Probably the hardest among the others is the physical agility exam. In order to pass this, one must have the lots of strength, stamina, and great agility. The work of a firefighter is really hard, and this test will show whether you’ll be able to handle the exhaustion that comes with it or not. Before taking this test, working out will be a big plus. Unless you’re very healthy and fit, this will drain you to the core. Don’t think that this isn’t necessary; because being a firefighter means that you will save lives. Just carrying one person requires heavy lifting, and that’s not including the heavy clothing being worn. Besides that, the smokes from the flames are pretty heavy on the lungs and you need to have a strong stamina to get through it.
The next time you see a firefighter passing by, respect him. He earned it. After going through the arduous process, those who passed really deserve it. Not only because of the examinations, but because they have the heart that comes with it. For someone to even think about being a firefighter, they would need to be committed. That’s a big part of the job, because they have to sacrifice a lot of things. They are even risking their lives saving and helping people. They teach the public about fires and how to deal with it. Children are right to admire this profession. It’s not only fulfilling, but also honorable.
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