[kosko]

(01-31-2013 12:11 AM)Hades Wrote:  

Did the physical requirements for firefighting suddenly get easier?

Yes in some Cities typical high end blue collar work such as Police and Fire are having a hard times recruiting of there old traditional standards, or they have lowered standards so much now that Women are now able to get a sniff.

Also many Cities in the States have fallen into a trap by being cheap asses and merging their Fire and EMS units. Now anybody whom is trained and capable of EMS is capable of Fire (in theory). So you have a ton of women whom are already doing EMS and its hard to say well you can't be a Firefighter because there are greater physical requirements to them when in many Cities they are the same thing.

(01-31-2013 12:12 AM)speakeasy Wrote:  

Aren't there enough blue collar unemployed men who would love to have these good paying jobs?

That is something we need to ask. You get a good paying job working as a Firefighter this is the type of work I would gladly do after EMS as I could not see myself being a cop. So we have to ask if there are just few men nowdays whom see the value in working these types of jobs?

Here is a self questioner for a Fire School in BC. fairly strait forward you would think.

Quote:

 Do you possess a valid Class 5, BC Drivers License with airbrake endorsement and full driving privileges?
 Are you physically fit and do you maintain a healthy life style?
 Do you have 20/30 visual acuity in each eye, unaided as determined by an optometrist or ophthalmologist?
 Do you have colour vision safe for the position of fire fighter? (As determined by Ishihara screening and additional colour
vision tests as required such as Fahrnsworth D-15 (saturated and unsaturated), Dvorine PIC, Dvorine NOM,
Fahrnsworth Munsell 100 Hue Test and the Lantern Test)?
 Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offence that would exclude you from being in a position of trust?
 Do you currently hold a CPR Level “C” certificate?
 Do you have good listening skills; are you able to extract and understand information in oral communication?
 Can you communicate effectively, both orally and in writing?
 Are you a competent swimmer?
 Are you comfortable being in confined spaces?
 Are you comfortable with heights?
 Are you willing to comply with instructions, directions and orders given by officers?
 Are you willing to work co-operatively with others as part of a team effort; supporting, encouraging and helping fellow
team members to work competently and safely?
 Are you willing to work in dangerous and unpleasant situations, take calculated risks to help others in need and continue
working despite physical discomfort?
 In the face of uncertainty, can you make necessary decisions?
 Do you have the self-confidence to be assertive when the situation demands it?
 Are you able to deal with stressful situations in a calm and constructive manner?
 Do you consider yourself tolerant towards others?
 Are you comfortable with people from different cultures and backgrounds?
 Do you make an effort to learn about cultures which are different from your own?
 Are you comfortable with interpersonal situations and establishing rapport with others?
 Do you try your personal best in carrying out a task?
 Do you try to assess your strengths and weaknesses objectively and then attempt to educate or improve yourself?
 Do you behave in an ethical manner by being straight-forward and honest; not lying or exaggerating?
 Are you currently active in contributing in some way to your community?
 Are you willing to adapt to change?
 Are you willing to attend courses and learn continually?