National Firefighter Selection Tests Guidance Notes
Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service has introduced a range of standardised fitness tests, which you will be required to meet, these will include stamina, strength and dexterity. To prepare for these tests we have put together a short video to assist you in your preparation for these tests.
1. Equipment Assembly test
To complete the test successfully you will need to assemble and then disassemble the equipment in the manner described within.” You should stand upright facing the bench.
Once the unit has been assembled completely and correctly as per the instructions and diagram, your total assembly time will be noted you will be told “go”, when you will start disassembling the unit in the reverse order, placing each item back on the board in the designated position.
Once you have completed the disassembly you will be told “stop” and your time will be recorded, all threads should be left finger tight only, if you go wrong, you will be told stop and referred to the pictures on the wall.
Fitness Section
Manual Dexterity can cover many forms, but what its about is loosening those limbs, quite an easy exercise is a nice low weight and then just moving those wrists around, keeping the elbows nice and tight. Just getting them loose we don’t go too heavy we are not trying to build muscle. Nice exercise turning those wrists around so when you go to do the test you have the strength in the wrist
2. Ladder Climb Test
To complete the test successfully you will need to show confidence and apply the correct technique to climb the ladder. You will be required to climb the ladder to two-thirds of its height; the ladder is marked to indicate that position Take a leg lock, release your hands from the ladder, outstretch your arms to the side, and look down to identify a symbol.
Regain your handhold, remove the leg lock and descend to the ground. You should complete this task in a safe and controlled manner.
Fitness Section
Take a weight that you are comfortable with and arms like so and fully close the arms and then fully extend, coming up and fully extend nice easy exercise, the important thing is we do it straight and not rocking the body, a little training tip is keep the elbows nice and tight, coming up and taking the down, a simple exercise is if you can’t get to the gym is use a nice solid base or chair and take our body off and coming down and pushing up with a nice straight back and 3 sets of 8 to 12 of this exercise.
3. Casualty Evacuation Test
To complete the test successfully you will need to combine upper and lower body strength and co-ordination you will be given a time limit in which to complete the test in.
Firmly grasp the carrying handle at the back of the dummy’s head with both hands.
Drag the dummy from the start cone, walking backwards along the 30 m route to the finish line. The assessor will tell you when to turn.
Fitness section
An excellent exercise, which will work the whole of your body, is actually a simple press up.
Okay first of all arms shoulder width apart and back nice and straight, simple press up is taking it down and then pressing up. If you don’t have the strength at the beginning to do the full exercise, it’s quite easy we can bend our legs onto our knees, coming forward and then pushing up. This is an excellent exercise which gives you that all over strength for dragging the dummy.
4. Ladder Lift Simulator Test
To complete the test successfully you will need to combine upper and lower body strength and co-ordination to lift the ladder to the required height and lower it safely under control.
Fitness section
Okay so we have a range of weights take one you are comfortable with. Feet hip width apart, slight bend in the knees, bring the weight up along your chest and then take it back down again. So we talked about lifting the weights up but now we want to lift the ladder up so again we use the shoulders, so another good exercise, feet hip width apart, slight bend in the knees arms in this position, take the weights up and then back down to horizontal.
5. Equipment Carry Test
You will be carrying equipment over the length of the course, moving around the two cones, which cover a distance of 25 metres the items are laid out in the order, which they are to be used. Run the hose to the second cone and place it down Run/jog back to the start and pick up the two coils of red hose by the handles Carry them up and down the course for 4 lengths, then place one down back in the marked space Pick up the other by the centre lugs and carry at chest height down to the second cone and place it down, then jog three lengths back to the start Pick up and carry the straight silver hose and basket up and down the course 4 lengths and place back in the marked space. Then run/ jog up and down the course 4 lengths Then pick up and carry the barbell up and down the course 4 lengths To complete the test successfully you will need to combine endurance, upper and lower body strength and coordination.
Fitness Section
Quite an easy one to learn, take some heavy weights or whatever you may have at home or in the garage, and simply carry these weights forward and backwards, so getting used to carrying quite a heavy weight but again it’s just general fitness that will see you through this test.
6. Enclosed Space Test
To complete the test successfully you will need to combine confidence, agility and strength to negotiate the crawl/walk way in. You will be required to negotiate a crawl or walk way.
You will start the test wearing a BA facemask with clear vision. Make your way through the crawl/walk way until you reach the assessor at the opposite end of the unit. When you reach the other end, an assessor will stop you, place an obscuration cover over your facemask, turn you around and tell you to return along the route you have just taken.
You should complete the test without jeopardising your safety and wellbeing. Your time will start as soon as you enter the crawl/walk way and will stop when you exit. The assessor tapping you on the head and saying stop will indicate the finish. You may withdraw yourself from the test at any time or if the safety officers think you are suffering unduly you will be withdrawn from the test.”
Okay then we have given you a few tips on how hopefully to get through the physical side of the acceptance test. Fitness is about yourself; it’s about getting out running the streets, swimming, cycling or whatever type of fitness you do. Just remember try and increase your fitness to a slightly higher level but keep your general aerobic fitness up there.
Good Luck