advice on frs medical.

[pork]

hi all,

i have had a good look into this, but can't seem to find a definitive answer, my worry is the medical at the end of the selection process. i have got eczema, it is only mild but i do use steroid creams when it flares up. to look at me you would not think i have it because it is under control, but i would have to declare this at the medical.

also, when i stopped smoking about six years ago, i had a quite bad chest infection (ironic i know!) and they prescribed me an inhaler and said it was asthma. i hardly used the inhaler and i have not had one for a number of years. this will no doubt be on my medical records.

through looking at various sources, i have only managed to get very general answers, such as, 'every case will be reviewed individually' because you can no longer discriminate and all that. . .

it seems in the past any sniff of asthma meant instant refusal of employment, im not sure about eczema.

is this still the case? would the fact that it may be on my records make them refuse me a job? similarly with eczema, has anyone got in with eczema or knows of a firefighter who has?

basically, i dont want to waste my time, equally it would be a waste of frs recources.

your help is appreciated.

[Fireguy1230]

To be honest mate, no one on here is a qualified doctor. All you can do is go to the medical and see what the Doc says about it.

[pork]

i'm just putting the feelers out, obviously theres no point applying if i get through and then am binned due to my skin. i'm wondering if this is likely or not.

i think it would be better to do the medical early on to sort out this type of thing, but as it stands the medicals are always the last stage arent they?

[adamski]

hey guys, anyone had there med yet for gmfs?

[adamski]

anyone...!?

[vikingmma]

Had mine today, wasn't too bad, passed everything but they want me to go back and do a lung/fitness test because I had an inhaler given to me years ago! Probably to see if i've got asthma. If i hadn't put it on the questionnare I prob would have passed on the day!

Never mind, honesty is the best policy so they say, fingers crossed..... AGAIN!!

They didnt do the chester step test which i was prepared for, I was told this had been replaced with the bleep test we did on the physical?!

They also did not measure grip or back and leg strength which I also thought they did?

Good Luck to all the others who had medicals!

[adamski]

yeah i had mine last week! Went ok and was surprised not to do any physical fitness testing! Not sure what happens now though? Have you heard anymore?

[vikingmma]

Not heard anything yet mate, the medicals are over now though, friday 24th was the last day. Im sure if they passed you as fit on the day you will have nothing to worry about. I guess with them being over, you will hear from them very shortly, as soon as the occupational health side of the frs has gone through all the doctors notes probably.

[Harwichfire]

Were all your medicals for the aviation fire service. i know there all diferent but how were they all colour blindness. I always struggle with the Ishara tests, find them really hard, but the farnsworth test i pass 100% each time, i never have trouble with colours, but according to the ishara tests im colour blind, but not the other. When i have gone for local authority before i have failed the ishara tests (loads of dots in a circle with a number in the middle), but then been aloud to do the farnsworth test and passed it 100% each time, so passed the medical, how is it with the aviation medicals. Its so frustratng because i really dnt notice and colour problems at all, only with that damn test.

[vikingmma]

im applying for greater manchester, they told us to get an eye test done at specsavers, all the medical stuff is done by a third party in gmfrs, not sure about others. i did the ishara tests in my test, and have never done the farnsworth one.

[Salty]

Hi,

I'm looking into applying to Staffordshire FRS when they recruit. On their website in the medical section it mentions a fitness test called the Covex test. It says it's a cardio pulmonary assessment measuring aerobic capacity. Does anyone know what this test is or what it involves?
Also does anyone know what reading is required on the lung function test? I heard the other day that this is quite a difficult part to pass.

Thanks very much for any help and advice you can give.

Tom

[vikingmma]

i think they measure peak flow (the speed of which you can exhale forcibly) and FEV (basically capacity). they are not hard to pass if you are physically fit. there is no set standard to pass these tests as they go off your height and age.

if you are a third under your expected score, i think that is regarded as pretty poor. anyone who exercises reguarly should not have a problem. you can train the lungs using a lung trainer which strengthens the muscles used in breathing, i have used one for years because i am a competitive fighter who trains a lot, i find it helps a great deal and my peak flow is way higher than expected, it may be worth investing in one if you have worries.

never heard of the covex test, sorry.

[Salty]

Thanks. I'm in the marines now so I'm pretty fit and train a lot as part of the job but I find I don't do great on those lung function tests. I don't fail the marines standard but don't know how that compares to the FRS standard. I've just got a powerbreathe but that trains inhalation rather than exhaling. What lung trainer do you have? I want to prepare myself as fully as possible so I stand the best chance of being successful.

Thanks again for your response.

[vikingmma]

i have a powerlung, that trains both inhale and exhale.

if you are in the marines you should be fitter than what the frs expects, and i cant see their standards for lung testing being higher, you 'should' be fine. although, only the frs health assesors know for sure.

[adamski]

has anyone had any updates from the recruitment team as yet? i'm still hanging in there for updates!