Many children have the dream of becoming a firefighter when they mature. As a career, firefighting carries a mixture of dangers and excitement. Firefighters experience a variety of challenges on the job, which they tackle differently. They contribute to their areas of residence, provide medical support in a wide variety of emergencies, and respond to situations that need urgent help in addition to their specialty of firefighting. Firefighters also partake in public safety awareness and education and conduct regular inspections. If a person is interested in becoming a firefighter, there is a wide array of fields in which one can be specialized. These include urban firefighting, wild land firefighting, as well as industrial firefighting. So, let us see how to become a firefighter.
For one to become a firefighter, he or she should begin by keeping fit. This is because firefighting is an occupation that requires rigorous training and an unending endeavor to keep fit and have an excellent body shape. During recruitment exercises, fire departments assess individuals for their physical attributes. They administer exams that include handling pressurized hoses, demolishing doors and similar structures, and as host of other exams that test valuable firefighting competencies. Therefore, one needs to cultivate these skills in advance.
The career path should begin in high school where the future firefighter has to learn a variety of subjects. At this level it is important to learn an additional international language since it will be helpful in communicating to different people in emergency situations. One should take education and training to a higher level, say advanced firefighting or first aid training. Many fire departments prefer recruits with a degree in fire science.
Application for firefighting training begins when one sits for the civil service exam. The relevant fire department administers the exam. In some areas, one may attend firefighting lessons in a school and then apply to join a firefighting department. Training involves various methods of firefighting, fire prevention and handling of various hazardous materials. If one has a more advanced training beforehand, he or she gains a competitive advantage in joining a firefighting department.
One has to complete the firefighting training a package satisfactorily and sit the appropriate examination. After passing the exam, it is important to undergo probationary employment in order to put skills into real practice. The probationary employment should last for at least three to six months, after which the intern is able to seek for employment ready to deliver efficient firefighting services.
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