The Requirements For Fire Service Recruitment
The requirements for fire service recruitment vary from one region to another but there are a numerous similarities that exist regardless of where the department is located. For a long time, fire fighters have been mainly involved in the putting out of fires and undertaking rescue operations. This has since changed and today they are required to do much more. In many places in the world, they will be seen in places such as road accident scenes, chemical spillage sites and so on.
Fire fighters work with many different groups of people and thus must have good interpersonal skills. Areas where they are heavily involved in various activities include schools, voluntary groups, community groups and statutory bodies among others. One needs to learn to be respectful of all these diverse persons and to treat everyone with dignity. Many of these fire fighters are considered heroes and should thus serve as good role models to the youth.
Persons that want to be recruited must prove that they are physically fit. The job involves lots of lifting and climbing and one must therefore be strong enough. Physical exercise is an integral part of training and goes on even after one has been recruited into the service. Persons that cannot tolerate the rigorous physical training are usually dropped.
Physical and mental health has to be checked before one is considered. Persons that have ailments that may be worsened by smoke and fires should not apply. Conditions such as asthma and chronic pulmonary disease have to be screened for. The importance of being of sound mental health cannot be overemphasized. Firemen often need to make dangerous decisions and these may mean either life or death.
One of the other major requirements is that one must be an adult as defined by the constitution. This is about 18 years in many countries. If you intend to become a recruit, ensure that you meet this requirement as defined by the law of the country you live in. Usually there is no upper limit as this will mainly be determined by other factors such as physical fitness and the general health status.
Compared to other professions, the academic performance does not seem to play a major role. However, many departments have set a minimum requirement of grade C in English and Mathematics in the GCSE or an equivalent. This is because, academic excellence may be equated to intelligence and thus, by extension, better decision making.
All fire fighters must have basic level swimming ability. They must be confident around water as some rescue operations will involve swimming. Persons with phobias of water or heights are discouraged from applying as this would pose a threat to both their lives and the lives of the persons they wish to rescue.
If you intend to take part in fire service recruitment, then you must meet the aforementioned criteria. Since there are additional requirements by different departments, one would be well advised to visit the specific department they want to work with in advance. Commitment to the training is very important and one may be dropped if they do not show it even if they have all the required qualifications.