SO HAVE YOU EVER HAD THAT DREAM, LIKE ME AND YOUR DREAM WAS ALWAYS TO BECOME A FIREFIGHTER?
EVER DREAMING OF RUSHING INTO A BUILDING AND COMING OUT WITH A FEW LIVE BODIES AND BEING THE HERO OF THE DAY?
SEEN THE MOVIE BACKDRAFT ONE AND TWO AND THOUGHT , THAT COULD BE ME?
ALWAYS BELIEVED A MAN IN UNIFORM (EVEN WOMEN)IS THE BEST THING THERE EVER IS?
Well I always thought it was, and I mean all of the above.
But the Fire Service Recruitment is not as simple as that nor as glamorous as you think.
Remember you main priority is to save lives and property above your own, so here are some pointers to consider before even thinking of becoming a firefighter:
- CAN WOMEN BECOME FIREFIGHTERS: Yes, women can become firefighters. If they pass all the tests as expected by the men around them they can and will become full firefighters and not as cooks or chefs, but real honest to God firefighters, hence the term firefighter and not fire man anymore!
- ARE THERE ANY AGE RESTRICTIONS:Yes, there are minimum and maximum age restrictions. Starting as a cadet at 18 is the youngest and you can start your training there and work your way up depending on your abilities and usually max is about 45 as then physically the rigorousness can get you killed.
- IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH HEIGHTS WILL IT AFFECT YOUR RECRUITMENT PROCESS:Definitely yes, as many fires occurs way above ground and if you freeze up there you put many colleagues lives in danger.
- IS CORRECTIVE VISION IMPORTANT:Yes, as you need to be able to see perfect in smoke filled rooms or rooms with low vision. That is one of the reasons rooms especially like these are created in your training already (one of the main factors I couldn’t make it as a firefighter)
- IS CLAUSTROPHOBIA A PROBLEM:Yes it can be a major problem, because once again not all fires are in wide open spaces and if you freeze up lives are out in danger.
- CAN I HAVE A FULL BEARD: No as the mask you wear to prevent smoke and poisonous gas inhalation depends on mask direct on skin to be effective.
- IS TATTOOS TABOO OR NOT:No but should not be visible once in uniform.
- HOW IMPORTANT ARE FOLLOWING ORDERS:Like any uniformed government service employment like army, navy, air force, etc, there is different ranks for reasons and experience and following higher ranks orders can save your life and not there to make it worse.
- HOW IMPORTANT IS PHYSICAL FITNESS:Very important and can not only save you or your colleague but the victim too, so training everyday even off duty is essential.
These are just a few standard Q’s and A’s that can help with Fire Service Recruitment. so good luck if you want to pursue this calling in life.