Why firefighters do needs general education

Why firefighters do needs general education

Firefighters work in teams to reduce deaths and losses from fire. They do this not only by providing a practical firefighting and rescue service but also by offering fire safety advice and education and ensuring that fire safety standards are complied with. When an emergency call is received, a controller decides how best to deal with the incident. (Smith, 2005) A Watch or Station Commander takes charge of the operation and leads the fire crew(s). With a major incident, a more senior Commander coordinates the work. Apart from fire, the emergency could involve rescuing people, animals or property from a disaster such as a flood, road, rail or air crash or releasing someone trapped in a dangerous or confined space. Equally, it could be a bomb alert, a spillage of chemicals or other hazardous substances. In dealing with the injured, firefighters use first aid techniques to administer immediate help before the arrival of emergency medical services.

In addition to some 41,000 full-time firefighters, there are around 17,900 'retained' or part-time firefighters, mainly in rural areas and small towns. About 1,400 people work as volunteer firefighters in Scotland. (Smith, 2005)

Entry level

Firefighters need a good general education. Some brigades may ask for specific GCSEs/S grades, while some entrants already have A levels/AH or H grades or a degree. You may have to pass a written entrance test and you would have to undergo a series of initiative and physical tests. These may be conducted over two days. Brigades may also test for practical aptitude and aerobic fitness and the ability to work well in a team.

There is no minimum or maximum height, but you must pass a test of fitness and strength. You need good eyesight without glasses or contact lenses, and you must ...