Clinton Fire Department Candidate Physical Ability Test. Orientation Guide

Transcription

1 Clinton Fire Department Candidate Physical Ability Test Orientation Guide Validated: June 2004

2 Candidate Physical Ability Test Orientation Guide This candidate physical ability test consists of two separate events. The first event is a pass/fail stand alone event simulating carrying a loaded stretcher. The second portion of the candidate physical ability test is a sequence of seven events requiring you to progress along a predetermined path from event to event in a continuous manner. This test was developed to allow the Clinton Fire Department to obtain a pool of trainable candidates who are physically able to perform essential job tasks at fire scenes. This is a pass/fail test based on a validated maximum total time of 6 minutes and 30 seconds. Throughout the second portion of the Candidate Physical Ability Tests, you must wear long pants, a hard hat with chinstrap, a 25 - pound self-contained-breathing-apparatus, work gloves and footwear with no open heel or toe. Watches and loose or restrictive jewelry are not permitted. All props were designed to obtain the necessary information regarding your physical ability. The tools and equipment were chosen to provide the highest level of consistency, safety and validity in measuring your physical abilities. A schematic drawing of the candidate physical ability test is included in this orientation material. The events are placed in a sequence that best simulates fire scene events while allowing a minimum of 85-foot walk between events. To ensure the highest level of safety and to prevent exhaustion, no running is allowed between events. This walk allows you approximately 20 seconds to recover and regroup before each event. To ensure scoring accuracy by eliminating timer failure, two stopwatches are used to time the candidate physical ability test. One stopwatch is designated as the official test time stopwatch; the second is the backup stopwatch. If mechanical failure occurs, the time on the backup stopwatch is used. If time elapses prior to the completion of the test, the test is concluded and you fail the test.

3 1 Shoulder Hose Carry This event uses 100-feet of 1 ¾-inch hose bundled (approximate weight is 40 pounds) to be carried on the shoulder to simulate a high rise pack and a staircase consisting of 20 stairs. This event is designed to simulate the critical tasks of climbing stairs while wearing selfcontained-breathing-apparatus and carrying 100-feet of 1 ¾-inch hose. This event challenges your aerobic capacity, lower body muscular endurance and ability to balance. This event affects your aerobic energy system as well as the following muscle groups: quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, calves, and lower back stabilizers. For this event, you will remove a hose bundle of 100-feet of 1 ¾-inch hose (approximate weight 40 pounds) from the 6-foot stepladder and place on either shoulder and carry hose 85-feet to the base of the stairs. You will ascend and descend the 20 steps two times to simulate climbing four flights and return the hose bundle to its original position. During this test you are encouraged to use the handrail for safety. While the hose bundle must be carried on the shoulder it can be repositioned at any time on the shoulder or repositioned onto the other shoulder. This concludes the event. Walk the minimum 85-feet within the established walkway to the next event. (Simulated Hose Raise) Failures During the hose carry, you are warned if you fail to touch every step while descending. The second infraction constitutes a failure, the test time is concluded and you fail the test. During the hose carry, you are warned if the hose bundle is dropped to the floor. The second infraction constitutes a failure, the test time is concluded and you fail the test.

4 2 Simulated Hose Raise This event simulates hoisting 2 ½-inch hose to upper floors or roofs of fire structures. The event uses a 5/8 inch rope to raise a 50-foot section of 2 ½-inch hose weighing approximately 65 pounds. This event is designed to simulate the critical tasks of safely hoisting and lowering a section of hose at a fire scene. This event challenges your aerobic capacity, upper body muscular strength, lower body muscular strength, grip strength, and anaerobic endurance. This event affects your aerobic and anaerobic energy systems as well as the following muscle groups: biceps, deltoids, upper back, trapezius, muscles of the forearm and hand (grip), glutes, quadriceps, and hamstrings. For this event, you must grip the 5/8 rope and raise the 65-pound weight 33-feet to the top of the hose tower using a hand over hand fashion, lower the weight 33-feet to its original position using a hand over hand fashion. Candidates must maintain control of the load at all times without slipping or dropping the load. Allowing the rope to slip through the hands is an unsafe practice and is unacceptable. Both of the candidate s feet must remain in contact with the 48-inch x 36-inch mat at all times while raising and lowering the weight. This concludes the event, walk the minimum 85-feet within the established walkway to the next event. (Ram Sled) Failures If the candidate does not maintain control of the weight in a hand over hand manner, or let the rope slip in an uncontrolled manner, your test time is concluded and you fail the test. During the hose raise, you are warned if your feet are not kept in contact with the mat. The second infraction constitutes failure, the test time is concluded and you fail the test.

5 3 Ram Sled This event uses a ram sled and 8 pound deadhead sledgehammer. The end of the ram will be flush with the end of the sled at the start of the event. This event is designed to simulate the critical tasks of ventilating a structure. This event challenges your aerobic capacity, upper body muscular strength and endurance, lower body muscular strength and endurance, balance, grip strength and endurance, and anaerobic endurance. This event affects your aerobic and anaerobic energy systems as well as the following muscle groups: quadriceps, glutes, triceps, upper back, trapezius, and muscles of the forearm and hand (grip). For this event, the candidate will stand over the ram on the prop, using both hands on the handle of the sledgehammer. The ram is to be driven 5-feet or until the end of the ram reaches the end of the sled. The candidate may reposition their body and/or grips while continuing their efforts. This concludes the event. Walk a minimum of 85-feet within the established walkway to the next event. (Hose Drag) Failures The candidate is to drive the ram with the sledgehammer, not drag it. If you do not maintain control of the sledgehammer and release it from both hands while swinging, it constitutes a failure, the test time is concluded and you fail the test.

6 4 Hose Drag This event uses an uncharged fire hose with a hose line nozzle. The hose line is marked at 8 feet past the coupling at the nozzle to indicate the maximum amount of hose you are permitted to drape across your shoulder or chest. The hose line is also marked at 50-feet past the coupling at the nozzle to indicate the amount of hose line that you must pull into a marked boundary box before completing the test. This event is designed to simulate the critical tasks of dragging an uncharged hose line from the fire apparatus to the fire occupancy and pulling hose while remaining stationary. This event challenges your aerobic capacity, lower body muscular strength and endurance, upper back muscular strength and endurance, grip strength and endurance, and anaerobic endurance. This event affects your aerobic and anaerobic energy systems as well as the following muscle groups: quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, calves, lower back stabilizers, biceps, deltoids, upper back, and muscles of the forearm and hand (grip). For this event, you must grasp a hose line nozzle attached to 200 feet of 1 3/4 inch hose. Place the hose line over your shoulder or across your chest, not exceeding the 8-foot mark. You are permitted to run during the hose drag. Drag the hose 75-feet to the prepositioned 4-foot x 6-foot rubber mat, drop to at least one knee on the mat and pull the hose line until the hose line s 50-foot mark crosses the rubber mat. During the hose pull, you must keep at least one knee in contact with the mat and knee(s) must remain on the mat. This concludes the event. Walk the minimum 85-feet within the established walkway to the next event. (Ladder Extension) Failures During the hose drag, if you go outside of the marked path (cones), the test time is concluded and you fail the test. During the hose pull, you are warned if at least one knee is not kept in contact with the mat. The second infraction constitutes failure, the test time is concluded and you fail the test. During hose pull, you are warned if your knees and/or feet go off the mat. The second infraction constitutes a failure, the test time is concluded and you fail the test.

7 5 Ladder Extension This event uses a 24-foot extension ladder. This event is designed to simulate the critical tasks of extending the ladder to the roof or window of a fire structure. This event challenges your aerobic capacity, upper body muscular strength, lower body muscular strength, balance, grip strength, and anaerobic endurance. This event affects your aerobic and anaerobic energy systems as well as the following muscle groups: biceps, deltoids, upper back, trapezius, muscles of the forearm and hand (grip), glutes. For this event, you will proceed to the pre-positioned and secured 24-foot aluminum extension ladder, stand with both feet on the 36-inch x 48-inch mat and extend the fly section hand over hand until it hits the stop. Then, lower the fly section hand over hand in a controlled fashion to the starting position. This concludes the event. Walk the minimum 85-feet within the established walkway to the next event. (Ladder Carry) Failure If during the ladder extension, your feet do not remain on the rubber mat, one warning is given. The second infraction constitutes a failure, the test time is concluded and you fail the test. If you do not maintain control of the ladder in a hand over hand manner, or let the rope halyard slip in an uncontrolled manner, your test time is concluded and you fail the test.

8 6 Ladder Carry This event uses a 14-foot fire department roof ladder. This event is designed to simulate the critical tasks of removing a 14-foot fire department roof ladder from a fire apparatus, carrying it to the emergency scene and returning the ladder to the fire apparatus. This event challenges your aerobic capacity, upper body muscular strength and endurance, lower body muscular endurance, grip endurance, and balance. This event affects your aerobic energy systems well as the following muscle groups: biceps, deltoids, upper back, trapezius, muscles of the forearm and hand (grip), glutes, quadriceps, and hamstrings. For this event you must remove a 14-foot fire department ground ladder from a ladder rack mounted 67-inches above the ground, safely carry it 20-feet and replace it on a ladder rack mounted 67-inches above the ground. The candidate is not allowed to rest the ladder on their shoulders. The ladder must not be dropped or touch the ground. This concludes the event. Walk the minimum 85-feet within the established walkway to the next event. (Rescue) Failures If the ladder touches the ground or the ladder is dropped, the test time is concluded and you fail the test.

9 7 Rescue This event uses a weighted mannequin equipped with a body harness. This event is designed to simulate the critical task of removing a victim or injured partner from a fire scene. This event challenges your aerobic capacity, upper and lower body muscular strength and endurance, grip strength and endurance, and anaerobic endurance. This event affects your aerobic and anaerobic energy systems as well as the following muscle groups: quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, abdominals, torso rotators, lower back stabilizers, trapizius, deltoids, latissimus dorsi, biceps, and muscles of the forearm and hand (grip). For this event, you must grasp a 145-pound mannequin by the straps on the shoulder(s) of the harness (either one or both shoulder straps are permitted), drag it 50-feet to a prepositioned drum, make a 180-degree turn around the drum, and continue an additional 50-feet to the finish line. You are not permitted to grasp or rest on the drum. It is permissible for the mannequin to touch the drum. You are permitted to set the mannequin down and adjust your grip. The entire mannequin must be dragged until it crosses the marked finish line. This event and the total test time ends when you cross the marked finish line and the timer calls out TIME. Failures If you grasp or rest on the drum at any time, one warning is given. The second infraction constitutes a failure, the test time is concluded and you fail the test.

10 Test Forms You must present valid identification and sign a number of forms before taking the Candidate Physical Agility Test. Prior to the start of the Candidate Physical Ability Test you must complete the Sign-In-Form. You are provided an opportunity to review a video detailing the Candidate Physical Ability Test and the failure points. It is your responsibility to ask questions if you do not understand any parts of the test events or procedures. You are required to complete the Waiver and Release Form. At the conclusion of the Candidate Physical Ability Test, you must sign the Candidate Physical Ability Test Evaluation Form. Additionally, prior to leaving the rehabilitation area, you must complete and sign the Rehabilitation Form. If you fail to complete and sign any of these forms you fail the Candidate Physical Ability Test.

11 CANDIDATE PHYSICAL ABILITY TEST WAIVER AND RELEASE FORM I,, hereby waive all causes of action for any personal injuries and damages which may exist against the City of Clinton, Iowa and its employees as a result of performing the Candidate Physical Ability Tests required for the position of Firefighter with said City of Clinton, Iowa. I am aware that such tests may be strenuous and I accept full responsibility for any injuries that may occur by their performance. Witness Name Date Date Photo ID checked and copied. Stretcher Carry Pass\Fail Shoulder Hose Carry Pass\Fail Hose Raise Pass\Fail Ram Sled Pass\Fail Hose Drag Pass\Fail Ladder Extension Pass\Fail Ladder Carry Pass\Fail Rescue Pass\Fail Time

12 STRETCHER CARRY (THIS IS A PASS/FAIL EVENT) This event uses two 50-pound dumbbells; one gym mat; one stopwatch. This event is designed to determine the candidate s ability to carry a loaded stretcher up and down stairs. This event challenges your aerobic capacity, upper body muscular strength and endurance, lower body muscular endurance, grip endurance, and balance. This event affects your aerobic energy systems as well as the following muscle groups: biceps, deltoids, upper back, trapezius, muscles of the forearm and hand (grip), glutes, quadriceps, and hamstrings. For this event, you begin by standing on the mat at the bottom of the stairs, facing the stairway. On the GO signal, you lift the two weights and slowly walk up thirteen steps to the landing. When both feet are on the landing, you back down the steps slowly, one at a time. When both feet are back on the mat, you again walk up to the landing slowly, when both feet are on the landing the second time, you slowly turn around and walk down the steps frontward until both feet are again on the mat. If 45 seconds have not elapsed from the time the GO signal was given, you must continue holding the weights until the timer tells you 45 seconds have elapsed. Then you lower the weights slowly to the mat. This concludes the event. Failure If you have to put the weights down during the event, lean against walls or railings, or drop the weights either during or at the completion of the event, the test time is concluded and you fail the test.